Delays on the M20 - May 2025

Berin

Berin

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We used the tunnel last weekend and they still seem to have some truck stacking system in place on the M20, despite there being no trucks. The southbound carriageway is truck only with a contraflow in place on the northbound carriageway, so allow extra time.

On the way back we diverted onto the A20 to avoid a 1 hour plus delay on the M20, as I think that now just has a single lane going north on that section.
 
There is no hard and fast rule about the M20, nor indeed the M25 or ‘Operation Stack’ or whatever it’s called. It is currently half-term, I think, so traffic to the coast(s) - irrespective of port or terminal - is up.

Just about the only way to find out what is happening ‘live traffic’ wise is to ask Google…. And plan accordingly. It is obvious that, if bods plan or insist on crossing at ‘popular times’ then they won’t be alone, nor should they expect to be.
 
Berin said:
We used the tunnel last weekend and they still seem to have some truck stacking system in place on the M20, despite there being no trucks. The southbound carriageway is truck only with a contraflow in place on the northbound carriageway, so allow extra time.

On the way back we diverted onto the A20 to avoid a 1 hour plus delay on the M20, as I think that now just has a single lane going north on that section.
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Rode back on it Sunday. 2 lanes each way and 50mph limit. Took 20 minutes to get through as a vehicle broke down and they closed both London bound carriages.
We truly have 3rd world infrastructure. Another benefit of mass immigration.
 
siddo said:
Rode back on it Sunday. 2 lanes each way and 50mph limit. Took 20 minutes to get through as a vehicle broke down and they closed both London bound carriages.
We truly have 3rd world infrastructure. Another benefit of mass immigration.
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I know. I was coming back from Belgium, not known for having a smooth flowing traffic experience but the horrible mess you have to deal with entering the UK is dreadful.

I’ve decided I’m not doing the tunnel again. I’d rather get the ferry from Portsmouth and drive/ride.
 
Berin said:
I know. I was coming back from Belgium, not known for having a smooth flowing traffic experience but the horrible mess you have to deal with entering the UK is dreadful.

I’ve decided I’m not doing the tunnel again. I’d rather get the ferry from Portsmouth and drive/ride.
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We have last week returned from a French Alps, Italian Lakes motorhome trip. In the past we used the tunnel because it was much easier with a dog. We don’t have a dog now so used the Hull-Rotterdam ferry. A much less stressful and tiring trip both going and coming back. No hold ups down south causing stress as regards being on time for the tunnel or sitting in contraflow at 50 mph for no good reason. Just 1 1/2 hours to Hull going and 1 1/2 hours from Hull to home coming back. Our days of driving south are definitely behind us now.
 
Berin said:
We used the tunnel last weekend and they still seem to have some truck stacking system in place on the M20, despite there being no trucks. The southbound carriageway is truck only with a contraflow in place on the northbound carriageway, so allow extra time.

On the way back we diverted onto the A20 to avoid a 1 hour plus delay on the M20, as I think that now just has a single lane going north on that section.
Click to expand...
It's been that way for over a year now Martin

IIRC the 50mph limit goes on for around 20 miles and finishes just before Ashford
 
siddo said:
Rode back on it Sunday. 2 lanes each way and 50mph limit. Took 20 minutes to get through as a vehicle broke down and they closed both London bound carriages.
We truly have 3rd world infrastructure. Another benefit of mass immigration.
Click to expand...
Operation Brock is the child of Operation Stack, and is to a large extent a direct result of Brexit.

We do have FAR TOO MUCH third world infrastructure in the UK, but the M20 isn’t it. It’s Michael Fucking Gove’s truck park.

Remember the lies on the big red bus, “£350 million to save the NHS”?. Well they spent nigh 10% of it to block up our local motorway. Fuckwits.

Operation Brock​

Main article: Operation Brock
On 28 October 2019, the Operation Brock traffic management plan became live. Operation Brock, in effect supersedes Operation Stack as a contingency allowing the M20 to be kept "open in both directions for all other traffic, minimising any impacts on local residents, businesses and public services".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Stack#cite_note-29"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></a> Work began in May 2018 on this scheme managed by National Highways (then Highways England), originally designed as a temporary solution to manage lorry queueing and traffic flow at the Port of Dover after Brexit.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Stack#cite_note-30"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></a>

In September 2018, National Highways (then Highways England) revealed in a freedom of information request that "Operation Brock, the code name for the management of freight in a no-deal scenario, would not be automatic and would require steel barriers to make a planned contraflow system on the M20 safe for ordinary vehicles" and that "£30m has been allocated to cover the design, build and initial operation of the scheme for up to six months."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Stack#cite_note-31"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></a>

As of March 2022, Operation Brock remains the traffic management plan for the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel. National Highways says, "the Operation Brock contraflow system is designed to keep traffic on the M20 and other roads in Kent moving when there is disruption to travel across the English Channel".<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Stack#cite_note-32"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></a>
 
The last Operation Brock was put in place for the bank holiday. Traveling to Folkstone/Dover should be back to normal now. Just crap not really crap.
 
Just avoid the M20

Take the M2 (not great granted) then the A2 to Stone Street or go via the Elham Valley Rd. Much nicer and will add 15 mins tops
 
I went up and down the M20 in early May. No hint of traffic. Good, as I was in a hurry…. And twice in April… also good.

The biggest problem? Cnuts (probably from outside the M25) who are driving * around in slack jawed wonder and manage (somehow) to get lost in the collection area at Folkestone….. I think there should be a simple test at the bottom of the M1 / M11 / A1 as to their mental capacity. Those lacking (which will be most) should be sent to Rhyl, where they’d be much happier.

* I use the term in its widest sense.
 
g00ner said:
Just avoid the M20

Take the M2 (not great granted) then the A2 to Stone Street or go via the Elham Valley Rd. Much nicer and will add 15 mins tops
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Shhh, don’t tell everyone the local secrets. 🤫
 
Berin said:
but the horrible mess you have to deal with entering the UK is dreadful
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I second the sentiment.
Crossed (mostly by car) in excess of 10 times this year, including a couple of trips to Brussels and return, where the driving experience is not the best.

All sections on the M20 inbound/outbound are a bloody crawl.
I've taken anything between 7 to 3 hours to cover the 110 kilometres that are in between my place and Folkestone.

I keep joking with friends that the M20 inbound into London is to "mentally prepare" people for the misery that is driving around the south east/London. :D

Asphalt (cement, really) situation is dreadful too, with a fair amount of standing water even in slightest downpours... considering parts of it have been recently refurbished... I'd be curious to ask why modern options like porous asphalt haven't been considered. You know, sometimes it rains in the UK.

This is from last August:
spray.gif


Whoever worked/planned this section of motorway, should better go across the channel and have a look at French motorways, without going too far...

Complete lack of reflective materials or cat eyes in most of the length of it.
Last December while driving towards London it was full of digital signage telling people to slow down to 50 (or less) because of some roadwork.
No roadwork to be seen for 20 miles.
People started speeding up back again after 10 miles or so... hopefully no one got done by wrongly set cameras.

It's really poor.
 
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er-minio said:
I'd be curious to ask why modern options like porous asphalt haven't been considered.
Click to expand...

Not forgetting that the last administration, besides delivering the oven ready turkey of Brexit, also delivered the disaster of making chunks the motorway smart, at a cost of multiple millions.

Yet, some here miss them.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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