Operation Brock is to be stood down on the M20 this weekend – but speed restrictions are set to stay for yet another month.

The hated contraflow system that runs between Ashford and Maidstone will be removed after “doing its job” for three weeks of the summer holidays, but barrier works mean motorists will continue to face a 50mph speed limit.

Highways bosses say Brock played “a vital part” in ensuring delays were kept to a minimum since schools broke up for summer.

As well as the restrictions on the motorway, Dover TAP was also deployed as well as traffic management in the town centre.

In that time, more than one million people reportedly made the journey to the continent via the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel in Folkestone.

Simon Jones, strategic lead for the Kent Resilience Forum which spearheads Brock’s deployment, described it as “the most effective scheme we have… to keep Kent moving.”

“With the forecasts ahead of the summer getaway, it was right to deploy it and looking back it has served its purpose very well,” he added.

“We said we would take Brock away as soon as the risk of disruption to Kent’s roads had passed, and we can now safely deliver on that pledge.

“The deployment of Brock, Dover TAP, the traffic management officers in Dover, plus, on occasion, at Brenley Corner, have served to manage freight and minimise disruption, not only in Dover but also for the wider east Kent road network.”

“As always, we want to say a big thank you to residents, businesses, tourists and hauliers for their patience and understanding during this incredibly busy time over the summer.”

The contraflow, which sees non-freight traffic travelling towards the coast use two lanes of the London-bound carriageway, while the coastbound side is reserved for freight destined for the port, is now set to be removed overnight on Saturday (August 19).

To allow this to take place, the motorway will be shut coastbound between Junctions 7 and 9 and London-bound between Junctions 9 and 8 from 8pm, reopening by 6am on Sunday (August 20).

However, while coastbound motorists will once again be able to use the national speed limit of 70mph, London-bound traffic will once again be limited to 50mph on stretches of the carriageway to allow barrier work to take place.

KentOnline had been repeatedly assured by National Highways that the barrier replacement works – an 18-month-long, £20m project to prepare the central reserve to host Brock’s barrier – had been completed before the deployment of Operation Brock on July 13.

However a spokesman revealed today there is set to be another month of restrictions.

He said: “The moveable barrier will remain in place in lane two and three of the London-bound carriageway between Junction 9 and halfway between Junction 8, to allow National Highways to apply the white lining to the align the carriageways to allow the quick moveable barrier (QMB) to be placed in its final position in the central reserve.

“While the barrier is in this position the 50mph London-bound speed restriction will remain in place whilst these works are being completed.

“The coastbound will revert back to its original speed limit of 70mph with all three lanes running with hard shoulder.

“National Highways is investing £20m to move the concrete barrier to its permanent position in the central reservation, which will allow quicker deployment of the Brock contraflow at times of cross-Channel disruption.

“The main barrier work is expected to be completed by mid-September.”