News

The Christmas getaway to the continent has today (20 December) brought major congestion to Dover and Folkestone with some drivers stuck in jams for over 5 hours.

Police brought in Operation Stack on the coastbound carriageway of the M20 because of the numbers of vehicles heading to the port, but the newly installed system was unable to alleviate the congestion and drivers were stranded for hours on both the M20 and A20.

Kate O'Hara, of the Port of Dover, said: "The port is extremely busy with tourist traffic and freight drivers wanting to get home before the festive period.

"We are experiencing heavy volumes of tourist traffic."

Kent Police Insp Jon Hambly said: "The traffic is moving, slowly but surely."

He said there had been a build up of traffic at the docks overnight which was a result of an unprecedented amount of traffic.

A newly installed movable barrier aimed at increasing the efficiency of the contraflow system used on the M20 when Operation Stack is put into place was tested in November.

Questions will no doubt be asked why the £12.6m system failed in such a dramatic way.

In June 2007 the Government agreed to invest £12.6m in a Quick Movable Barrier (QMB) to help Kent police manage the issues caused by Operation Stack. Using the QMB - a continuous moveable barrier used to put a contraflow system in place quickly - will provide a contraflow system on the London-bound carriageway and allow all motorway traffic to remain on the road rather then be diverted onto the A20. With QMB two lanes will remain open in both directions.