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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Helen Carter

No-deal Brexit motorway plan codenamed Operation Brock starts on M20

Traffic restrictions have been brought in on the M20 in Kent as part of the government's plans for a no-deal Brexit in response to potential delays at ports in coming days or weeks.

Operation Brock sees one side of the carriageway being used for lorries only heading to cross-Channel ports.

All other traffic is limited to a contraflow system on the opposite direction in the event of disruption to services across the English Channel.

Lorries travelling to Europe will face a 30 mille per hour limit between junctions eight at Maidstone and nine at Ashford on the coast-bound carriageway of the M20.

All other traffic on the motorway - including lorries carrying out UK deliveries - must use a 50mph contraflow of two lanes in each direction on the London-bound side of the road.

Manston Airport in Kent is prepared for Operation Brock and Brexit (PA)

Under plans for Operation Brock, hauliers could also be sent to a lorry park at Manston Park, and the M26 could be closed and used for queuing HGVs in the even of severe disruption.

Operation Brock is the codename for a series of measures was put in place in March 2018 ahead of the initial Brexit date, but was deactivated three days later.

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It means drivers of lorries weighing more than 7.5 tonnes heading for Eurotunnel or the Port of Dover should follow signs directing them to the coastbound carriageway of the M20.

Lorries can be routed to Manston Airfield and, if needed, the M26 can be closed and used to queue lorries, too.

The Government said its deployment will be kept under continual review and will be stood down once it is no longer needed.

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