M20 junction 8 to 9 moveable barrier

Latest updates

• 28 August 2020

  Work gets under way on moveable barrier solution

  From 1 September essential work starts which will help keep traffic moving on the M20 in the event of cross-Channel disruption.

  London bound closures

  There will be overnight closures of the M20 London bound to install 7.5 miles of temporary safety barriers. Behind these safety barriers our workforce will be delivering a range of work concurrently which will shorten our programme and lessen the impact on road users.

  Our work includes pavement repairs, drainage repairs, road markings and stud work, crash barrier work, central reservation gate installation, CCTV system installation and the installation of the new moveable barriers at the back of the M20 London bound hard-shoulder.

  Overnight closures London bound junction 9 to 8

  (No overnight closures planned on Saturday nights)

  Start - 9pm	End - 6am
  1 September 2020	5 September 2020
  6 September 2020	9 September 2020
  24 September 2020	26 September 2020
  28 September 2020	03 October 2020
  04 October 2020	06 October 2020
  12 October 2020	17 October 2020
  18 October 2020	20 October 2020
  03 November 2020	07 November 2020
  09 November 2020	13 November 2020

   

  12 November 2020 to 1 December 2020 is a contingency period. We will let you know whether we’re using this contingency period closer to the time.

  The following signed diversion routes will be in place whenever we close the M20 London bound between junctions 9 and 8:

  • traffic will be diverted from junction 9 via the A20 to re-join the M20 at junction 8.
  • vehicles over 4.7m high need to follow a different route, which is to turn around at junction 9 to re-join the M20 towards Dover, then take the A20, the A2, then the M2. Drivers should then leave the M2 for the A249, to re-join the M20 at junction 7 and head back towards junction 8.

  Diversion Route Map.

  Although we’re closing the London bound motorway at night, it will remain open during the day, operating with narrow lanes at 50mph where work is in progress.

  
  There will be no closures on Saturday nights. We have also planned our work to avoid overnight closures during the October half term from the Friday 23rd to 2nd November.

  Coastbound lane closures

  We’ll be working on the M20 coastbound between junction 8 and 9, so there’ll be overnight lane closures and a speed reduction of 60mph past the works areas. Check this page for more info on our coastbound lane closures.

  Our work is due to be completed by mid-November, however we have built in contingency time until the end of November in case of unforeseen circumstances such as poor weather.

  Check before you travel

  Please check our roadworks page before you plan any journeys or for changes in our programme. You can also find travel information on:

  • Traffic England website
  • our travel alerts page

  Please contact us on 0300 123 5000 or reach the M20 Project Team direct via this email address (M20MoveableBarrier@highwaysengland.co.uk) and we will be glad to assist you.  You can also follow us on twitter @HighwaysEnglandSEAST

  We would like to thank you in advance for your understanding, patience and support during these essential works.

• 21 August 2020

  Work on new moveable barrier solution starts 1 September

  Essential work to help keep traffic moving on the M20 in Kent in the event of cross-Channel disruption will start from 1 September. 

  Overnight work is necessary to install a new moveable barrier which can be deployed, when required, as part of a system to minimise disruption to drivers and Kent communities.

  The system will allow port-bound lorries to be held on the motorway and at the same time help ensure other traffic continues to run in both directions.

  Unlike previous solutions it also means that, when it is not deployed, the M20 motorway will be able to operate with three lanes running in each direction, at 70mph.

  The new system requires us to work on the hard shoulder of the M20 between junctions 9 and 8 of the London-bound carriageway.

  There will be overnight or lane closures between the junctions from 1 September and the end of November. 

  Work is scheduled to finish by the end of November, but there is contingency to continue work into December should adverse weather conditions make this necessary.

  We’ll be closing the London-bound carriageway overnight (9pm – 6am) from 1-11 September.  We’re not working on 6 September and the motorway will be open that evening.  We’ll then be working again from 16–25 November when the same overnight closures will take place except on the evening on 22 November when the motorway will stay open. 

  During the work, the London-bound carriageway will be reduced to two lanes for safety with a speed limit of 50mph during the day. Work to install gates on the central reservation will require some additional overnight closures of the London-bound carriageway and overnight lane closures on the coast-bound carriageway. The coast-bound M20 will remain open at 60mph while this work is taking place. Advance notice of these closures will be communicated nearer the time.

  Whenever the London-bound carriageway is closed traffic will be diverted from junction 9 via the A20 to re-join the M20 at junction 8. Vehicles over 4.7m high need to follow a different route, which is to turn around at junction 9 to re-join the M20 towards Dover, then the A20, the A2, then the M2. Drivers should then leave the M2 for the A249, to re-join the M20 at junction 7 and head back towards junction 8.

• 13 February 2020

  New scheme to keep M20 moving

  In the event of cross-Channel disruption, the new scheme will be designed to ensure that the M20 can be kept open. During normal traffic conditions, the new scheme allows the motorway to retain three lanes, a hard shoulder and 70mph speed limits in both directions.