A long stretch of the M20 will shut tonight as the hated Operation Brock system is removed.
The motorway will be closed from 8pm between Maidstone and Ashford as the contraflow is stood down.
The Kent and Medway Resilience Forum deployed the system on the 13-mile section at the start of the school holidays due to expected high passenger numbers at the Kent ports.
To safely remove the contraflow, the M20 will be closed – London-bound from Junction 9 to 8 and coastbound Junction 7 to 9 – overnight from 8pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.
Fully signed diversion routes will be in place while the route is closed overnight.
National Highways says these times have been chosen to minimise disruption to road users and ensure the roads are suitable for the traffic.
Drivers are advised to follow the diversion signs over their sat-nav instructions.
Once removed, both carriageways will reopen with three lanes and the national speed limit back in place.
The controversial system has been described as a “massive inconvenience” for residents, and Kent MPs have questioned whether it is necessary to put it in place during every school holiday.
In January, it was revealed the government is working on a permanent solution to the problem of congestion at the Port of Dover backing up traffic deep into Kent.
The new system would use a combination of new digital technology and off-road sites to hold HGVs during disruption, but is still in the early planning stages.
Bosses say the decision to use the traffic management measure is made collectively by KMRF, a partnership of agencies including Kent Police, Kent County Council and National Highways.
KentOnline also revealed earlier this year how the Brock contraflow costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds every time it is used.
Deploying and removing the traffic management system on the busy motorway racks up a bill of about £250,000 each time, while maintaining and servicing it adds up to a further £100,000 per week.
