The controversial Operation Brock contraflow will be removed from the M20 this weekend.

The traffic scheme, installed between junctions 8 and 9 to manage the flow of freight and tourist passengers heading across the Channel via Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover over the Spring Bank Holiday, has been in place since May 21.

However, National Highways confirmed they will be removing it overnight on Sunday, June 4.

When the scheme is removed, the 50mph speed limit and traffic management will remain London-bound for the time being to allow work on the M20 to resume.

Last week, the leader of Kent County Council said he was disappointed by the decision to reinstate Operation Brock ahead of the weekend.

Cllr Roger Gough said the decision to implement it was unwelcome and raised questions about how the contingency measures were considered necessary for the most recent Bank Holiday - but not for the two previous ones.

Speaking at the county council’s annual meeting, he said: “We have been pleased to see two consecutive holiday weekends without the need for Operation Brock but then immediately after that …. because of high coach volumes at Easter, Operation Brock was needed.”

Following the announcement of the removal, Simon Jones, strategic lead of the Kent Resilience Forum said: “Last weekend saw very high tourist numbers heading to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel as anticipated by the cross-channel providers and the Department of Transport.

“Operation Brock did the job we needed it to do in holding back freight from the A20 into Dover, allowing local traffic to continue to flow, and avoiding delays on the local road network and, indeed, the main routes to the port.

“As always, we thank everyone for their patience and for understanding that, by using the contraflow, we were able to keep Kent moving during the half-term getaway.

“Our aim is always to keep the county’s roads safe and to help residents, road users and businesses reach their destinations as quickly as possible.”

The coastbound M20 will be closed between junctions 7 and 9 and London bound between junctions 9 and 8 from 8pm on Sunday 4to remove the contraflow. Both carriageways will re-open by 6am on Monday.