Operation Brock will be deactivated this weekend.

This was confirmed today by National Highways and Kent Resilience Forum.

The contraflow system has been in place on a 13-mile section of the M20 between Junctions 8 (for Maidstone) and 9 (at Ashford) over the Christmas period.

This was a contingency measure due to the risk of cross-Channel travel disruption over that time.

The contraflow will be removed overnight from 8pm this Friday.

This is with the coastbound side of the motorway between Junctions 7 and 9 and London-bound side between Junctions 9 and 8 re-opened to two lanes by 6am on Saturday.

During this closure, the moveable barrier will be temporarily relocated to the coastbound hard shoulder.

The London bound M20 will also be closed overnight from 8pm on Saturday until 6am next day while the barrier is moved to lane 1 on the London bound M20.

It will stay there while work is carried out on the verge between Junctions 8 and 9, with the barrier used to protect the workforce.

A 50mph speed limit will remain in operation on the coastbound and Londonbound M20 carriageway between Junctions 8 and 9.

Christine Allen, National Highways interim regional director, said: “Operation Brock is a crucial contingency measure, which helps to keep Kent moving in times of cross-Channel disruption.

"We are grateful for people’s patience while the contraflow system has been in place.

"National Highways will remove the contraflow this weekend, but the barrier will remain out on the Londonbound M20 until the spring for the safety of our workforce.

"This is while we continue our enabling works for the barrier storage when not in use.”

Diversion routes will be in place on the A20 to help road users and they are as follows.

Coastbound traffic should exit the M20 at junction 5 onto the feeder road to the A229. It will then exit the feeder road at junction 6 onto the Northbound A229 and remain on this until the top of Blue Bell Hill where it will exit to Taddington Wood/Walderslade roundabout complex and enter the M2 coastbound carriageway

London-bound traffic will follow a fully signed diversion routes along the A20 Over-height vehicles should use the A2, M2 and A249..