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Operation Brock is now in force on the M20 despite the possibility of Brexit postponement.
The contraflow system between Junction 8 for Maidstone and Junction 9 for Ashford is designed to keep traffic moving if there is disruption to services across the English Channel in the event of a no-deal.
However, there are long delays on the M20 this morning as work to prepare for the operation overran.
Roadworks, between junctions 7 and 9, were supposed to be lifted at 6am – but they weren't until about 7.45am.
Highways England informed people, on Twitter, that the works had finished shortly before 8am.
The delay saw traffic build not just on the M20 but on surrounding routes.
The journey from Walderslade to Maidstone down Blue Bell Hill was being estimated at an hour, while motorists who instead opted for Boxley Hill were stuck in 50-minute queues.
A Highways England spokesman said: "The overnight roadworks closing the M20, J7 to J9, has now finished and the M20 is open with Operation Brock contraflow in place."
However, frustrated motorists have slammed the delays.
Susan Nelson said: "Why are they doing this, it didn’t work last time and we are not even leaving any time soon. The M20 is bad enough without this happening, someone please get a grip!"
Mason Stephens added: "Hardly surprising... I mean this was sprung on them last minute. The three years' notice isn't important this morning," while Dominic Harper asked: "Why waste all this public money on something that isn’t going to happen? To try and bully us into thinking we have no choice?"
Under the scheme, the coastbound side of the motorway between Junctions 8 and 9 will be used only by HGVs heading to Dover, with all other traffic restricted to a 50mph contraflow system on the London-bound carriageway.
Here's how it will impact you.
A spokesman for Highways England said: "The delay to opening this morning was due to the activation operation taking a bit longer than expected to carry out and complete final checks. It was a complicated operation involving putting out 7,500 traffic cones and 350 signs. We are sorry for any inconvenience from this delay."
KMTV report on Operation Brock
