M20 Operation Brock contraflow to be lifted for Christmas

Together with our partners in the Kent Resilience Forum, we confirmed the decision to lift the contraflow on Thursday 19 December.

We've deployed the contraflow system on the M20 between junctions 8 (for Maidstone) and 9 (at Ashford) ahead of the festive period.

This was due to expected high passenger numbers at the Kent ports. 

Operation Brock is part of a series of measures to make sure traffic flows smoothly when cross-channel services are disrupted.

Closures

To safely lift the contraflow, we'll close the M20 overnight from 8pm on Sunday 22 December to 6am on Monday 23 December:

• London bound from junction 9 to 8
• coastbound from junction 7 to 9

We've chosen these times to cause travellers the least disruption.

While the M20 is closed, clearly signed diversion routes will be in place to help you reach your destination. We advise you to follow the diversion signs rather than instructions on your SatNav.

Once we've removed the contraflow, we'll reopen both carriageways with three lanes and the national speed limit back in place.

Please remember that closure details can change at short notice. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our daily closures page.

Plan ahead

If you're travelling over the holiday period, allow more time for your journey and make sure you're prepared for delays.

Follow our advice for driving in winter weather.

Use this link to check the status of the Operation Brock contraflow.