The government is being urged to widen a stretch of a main route as part of a series of measures to keep traffic and freight moving after Brexit.

An alliance of key industry, local government, parliamentary and transport representatives, including the Port of Dover, say a failure to improve one of the two key routes used by freight and commercial traffic would harm the UK economy.

They said the case for dualling the A2 near Dover is “compelling” while “urgent joined-up thinking over road transport investment” was needed if Kent was to secure the key cross-Channel gateway linking the UK largest trading partner, the European Union with the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine.

While it recognised plans for the Lower Thames Crossing were an essential long-term investment, other investment was needed “as soon as possible” if freight and other traffic was to keep moving.

In a joint statement, the group said: “With the urgency of maintaining traffic and trade fluidity in the context of Brexit, it is vital that other complementary investments are made as soon as possible in order that they support the role of the Lower Thames Crossing, but also deliver early and enhanced resilience in the transport of goods via the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.”

It singled out long-called for improvements to the A2 as a priority, saying: “It is in this context that the Port of Dover, the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) and local authorities are calling for urgent consideration of A2 dualling for several miles between Lydden and Dover so the port can keep traffic flowing beyond the dock gate.”

Richard Christian, head of policy and communications at the Port of Dover said: “For the sake of our national economy, it is vital fluidity at Dover and throughout the supply chain is maintained. This means not only keeping border checks to a minimum and away from the physical border, but also by bringing forward targeted road investment to key trading gateways such as A2 dualling to Dover linked to the Lower Thames Crossing which we strongly support.”

“For the sake of our national economy, it is vital fluidity at Dover and throughout the supply chain is maintained..." - Richard Christian, Port of Dover

“Our cross-Channel corridor provides pan-European just-in-time supply chains with the efficiency and fluidity needed by British, Irish and European farmers, traders and manufacturers, as well as ordinary citizens.”

Christian Brodie, chairman of the SELEP (South East Local Enterprise Partnership), said: “No country would accept a single carriageway leading to its busiest port, which is the situation we have here in Kent. The dualling of the A2 at Lydden, long called for by Kent County Council and Dover District Council, is imperative in helping secure the growth everybody wants as the country prepares for Brexit.”

“The case for a relatively small investment in dualling is a compelling one. It would improve the strategic road network and at the same time reinforce the resilience of Dover if it was necessary to hold lorries away from the port in the event of Operation Stack being implemented.”

Lower Thames Crossing project director Tim Jones said: "The Port of Dover is one of the country's key gateways to the world but the current road connections between Kent and Essex act as a barrier between the south east and the rest of the country.”