Travel improved at Port of Dover and Eurotunnel

Published: 26/07/2022

Travel to the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel has improved following a weekend of disruption.

Partner agencies worked around the clock to help ease the congestion which started on Thursday 21 July 2022.

With many thousands of passengers heading to Europe Operation Brock traffic management scheme remained operational on the M20 to manage the flow of freight heading to the continent. Operation Brock is part of a series of measures to improve Kent’s resilience in the event of disruption to services across the English Channel.

Over the weekend additional measures were put into place to alleviate the pressure upon the road network and to help road users reach their destination as safely and as quickly as possible.

These have now been lifted and drivers heading to the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel can do so as usual. Similarly, Operation Brock’s contraflow is back in place between junction 8 for Maidstone and junction nine for Ashford and allowing traffic to travel coastbound on the M20.

The Summer Getaway travel disruption was declared as a major incident by the Kent Resilience Forum at 1.25pm on Friday 22 July, and at 1.10pm on Monday 25 July this was stood down with partners returning to routine operations.

On Sunday the Port of Dover had processed more than 72,000 passengers and the Kent Resilience Forum thanks everyone affected over the weekend for their patience and understanding during a very difficult period and are reminding passengers heading to the continent to plan ahead, check before they travel and leave plenty of extra time for their journey. Motorists should also ensure they have adequate food, water and other essential supplies before starting their journey.