AN MP is sharing motorists’ frustration at a further delay in curbing the hated Dover TAP system.
Highways officials had promised that the permanent artificial low speed on the nearby A20 would end in March but this has been put back by another three months.

The system slows down traffic coming from Folkestone and Ashford.

Dover’s Charlie Elphicke said:: “Last autumn, Highways England said they would have this absurd speed limit gone by March. Now they say it won’t be gone until June.
“Yet again they show they are not fit for purpose and have failed to get on with the job.
“It’s wrong they continue to subject local people to yet more delays.
“I am seeking an urgent meeting with the Transport Secretary to discuss this latest bungling by Highways England.”

Dover TAP (Traffic Assessment Project) was introduced in April 2015 on the A20 from the Round Hill Tunnels at Folkestone to Aycliffe to control the flow of port-bound traffic at busy times.

It involves a 40mph speed limit but that has been enforced at all times. Varying this would allow the national speed limit of 70mph for cars, motorcycles and vans when TAP is not being used.

Drivers complain that they have to go artificially slowly even when it is entirely safe to go up to the usual limit.

Yet they are fined for going over 40mph and harassed from behind by drivers of other vehicles, including lorries, when they keep within the limit.

It has led to Dover-bound drivers circumventing this by going onto the B2011 leading to Capel-le-Ferne parish council complaining that they are using its part of the road as a rat run.

But Dover District Council is still grateful that the variable limit will begin in time for the busy summer period.

Cllr Nigel Collor, cabinet member for access said: “We are delighted at this news and are very pleased to see this solution on the way to address the issue of lorries queuing through central Dover.

“The situation has improved since the Port of Dover opened their Buffer Zone in the Eastern Docks, but we still need to have Dover TAP for when there are problems, especially with the volume of traffic using the Port of Dover increasing.

“The variable speed limit is a key milestone to provide a more resilient road network to support the town and the port.”

Highways England had said last September that signs to change the speed limit would be installed in the first half of 2017.

Regional safety coordinator Colin Gardner then said: “Dover TAP has been successfully reducing the congestion on the A20 through the town at busy times.

“We are installing signs on the coastbound A20 that will allow us to change the speed limit when Dover TAP is in operation to improve journey times and reliability.”