Knowledge (XXG)

Operation Brock

Source 📝

22: 156:. Both directions of motorway traffic are directed onto the westbound carriageway contraflow at a speed limit of 50 mph. The eastbound carriageway will then be closed and used for HGV queuing in two lanes (the hard shoulder and 3rd lane) with the other two lanes reserved for emergency vehicles, maintenance vehicles and amenities. This would be marked out with cones and subjected to a 30 mph speed limit. Due to the contraflow setup, non-HGV traffic cannot join the M20 eastbound at Junction 8. 140:(HGVs) queuing for the Port of Dover. At this stage, Dover TAP is activated and all HGVs using the Port must use the A20 from Folkestone, queuing in the left hand lane. The road will be reduced to 40 mph and all other traffic will use the right hand lane. HGVs will be released in intervals at Western Heights Roundabout to the west of Dover, in order to avoid clogging up the only main road through the town. 205:
Operation Brock would have to be activated again in the following months due to the uncertainty of Brexit. The westbound carriageway has stayed at 50 mph. This has decreased safety to motorists travelling on the M20 whether Operation Brock is in force or not, as if they breakdown they are in a live lane and there are no warnings to other traffic like there are on
112:
and altering the carriageway of the M20 between Junctions 8 and 9. On the westbound carriageway of the M20, the hard shoulder was converted to a running lane, giving that carriageway a total of four lanes, all remarked with white lines. A steel barrier now separates these lanes, providing two in each
204:
The contraflow has been the height of issues however. As Operation Brock was not used due to Brexit being delayed, the decision was made to partially revert the M20 back to its original state. This was done by reopening the eastbound carriageway fully, and keeping the steel barrier in the event that
200:
In January 2019, a rehearsal for part of Operation Brock was carried out, using the former Manston Airport as a lorry park. It was criticised for being unrepresentative of the actual situation that would occur in reality. On the first day of the test, only 89 of the planned 150 lorries turned up for
242:
28 January 2022 – Work, expected to take approximately 1 year, begins to move the barriers stored position from the hard shoulder to the central reservation. During this period lanes are closed in both directions on parts of the motorway between J8 and J9 but the contraflow is not normally used.
92:
coupled with the more recent Dover Traffic Assessment Project (TAP), which meters or halts lorries but not other traffic on the A20 before they may enter the town. However, with the possibility of a higher administrative overhead at the Port of Dover
250:
incident as a precaution against disruption at Dover. Between 25 March and 6 April the coastbound M20 is completely closed with increasing frequency between J8 and J9, with the coastbound contraflow being used for HGV traffic management.
260:
6 June 2022 - Operation Brock is deactivated. Lane closures and speed limits are still in force between Junctions 8 and 9 to resume the previous works to move the barrier storage location.
192:
Phase 4 only affects HGVs for the Channel Tunnel. The M26 is now closed entirely and HGVs are parked on both carriageways until space at the contraflow on the M20 becomes available.
108:
request that "£30m has been allocated to cover the design, build and initial operation of the scheme for up to six months." The works included strengthening the carriageways of the
217:
May 2018 – Highways England designed and built a temporary traffic management system that would implement a contraflow system using a rigid steel barrier separating traffic flows.
209:. In the first few weeks of the contraflow being in force, many accidents happened on the stretch, and with no hard shoulder emergency vehicles found it hard to get to the scene. 164:
Phase 3 separates the HGVs for the Port of Dover and Channel Tunnel. All HGVs for the Channel Tunnel use the contraflow on the M20, whereas HGVs for the Port of Dover head to
696: 321: 88:
since the late 1990s. When the ferries and/or shuttle trains were not running to schedule, lorries bound for the continent were parked on the motorway, under
295: 233: 80:
dual carriageway making up the last few miles to Dover. Effectively the motorway has carried nearly all cross channel traffic to and from the
406: 223:
January 2020 – The barrier is removed and works begin in designing a moveable barrier that can be implemented and removed at short notice.
753: 805: 354: 704: 671: 779: 465: 232:
21 December 2020 – Barrier is moved into place and Operation Brock activated due to the French Border being closed as a result of
853: 105: 858: 543: 257:
14 April 2022 – Operation Brock is scaled back, reopening M20 J10a to J11 and the coastbound contraflow to normal traffic.
379: 21: 727: 169: 619: 247: 594: 863: 645: 491: 254:
6 April 2022 – "Operation Brock Zero" is activated, extending the complete closure of the coastbound M20 to J11.
149: 728:"Operation Brock in force on M20 at Maidstone and Ashford as P&O Ferries expected to cause freight delays" 517: 672:"Operation Brock M20 barrier between Ashford and Maidstone to move from hard shoulder to central reservation" 229:
11 December 2020 – Testing of the moveable barrier was carried out in preparation for 27/28 December 2020.
269: 116:
Operation Brock was scheduled to be ready for activation no later than the date of the UK's exit from the
97:
and an increase in freight traffic, protocols needed to be strengthened and Operation Brock was formed.
180:(advertised routes by Highways England). HGVs will queue here until space is made available on the 137: 49: 780:"Operation Brock contraflow back in force tonight as Junction 10a and 11 on M20 reopen coastbound" 77: 37: 806:"M20 50mph limit remains despite deactivation of Operation Brock between Maidstone and Ashford" 128:
There are four phases of Operation Brock, each trying to cope with more traffic than the last.
414: 329: 48:
during cross-Channel traffic problems. It was originally developed for use in the event of a
152:
between Junctions 8 and 9 on the M20 and now applies to HGVs for both the Port of Dover and
120:, 31 January 2020. Road marking reworkings began on or around the night of 26 October 2019. 101: 274: 165: 89: 45: 492:"Operation Brock has been in place for two days on the M20 and it's already a disaster" 206: 153: 117: 85: 847: 81: 568: 439: 184:, where the TAP256 will control HGVs in the same way the Dover TAP does on the A20. 109: 69: 65: 26: 239:
25 April 2021 – Contraflow is removed and barrier is moved back to the shoulder.
838: 833: 544:"The M20 closures planned this week as new Op Brock barrier set to be installed" 322:"No-deal Brexit could trigger 14 days of road chaos, Highways England reveals" 73: 418: 333: 236:. It was initially planned to move the barrier into place on 27/28 December. 181: 177: 173: 94: 296:"NAO warns 'considerable' infrastructure work needed at UK border" 246:
25 March 2022 – Operation Brock contraflow is activated after the
754:"M20 closed between Maidstone and Hythe as Brock Zero brought in" 466:"Operation Brock – work to remove M20 contraflow starts tonight" 355:"Kent roads ready for Brexit as hauliers gear up for 31 October" 41: 646:"Full closure of M20 planned to remove Operation Brock barrier" 16:
Traffic management system to mitigate the effects of Brexit
569:"Operation Brock M20 barrier test as Brexit date looms" 407:"No-deal Brexit rehearsal in Kent 'a waste of time'" 29:
near Hollingbourne within the Operation Brock area.
620:"Post-Christmas work to activate Operation Brock" 100:Work began in May 2018 on this scheme managed by 595:"Operation Brock to be deployed in Kent tonight" 226:September 2020 – Zipper barrier is installed. 8: 104:and in September 2018 they revealed in a 440:"Post-Brexit lorry park trial under way" 380:"Airport site used for post-Brexit test" 220:26 October 2019 – Barrier is installed. 20: 286: 542:MacDougall, Lauren (30 August 2020). 320:O'Carroll, Lisa (28 September 2018). 7: 644:MacDougall, Lauren (20 April 2021). 490:Chessum, Victoria (26 March 2019). 405:O'Carroll, Lisa (7 January 2019). 14: 834:Highways England: Operation Brock 136:The initial phase only concerns 778:Castle, Liane (14 April 2022). 726:Dixon, Rachel (22 March 2022). 703:. 21 March 2022. Archived from 670:Wright, Dan (13 January 2022). 516:Pyman, Tom (31 January 2020). 44:, England, used to supplement 1: 839:Roads.org.uk: Operation Brock 697:"Operation Brock is in place" 54:Brexit Operations across Kent 52:and the name is derived from 294:Clark, Jess (20 July 2018). 248:P&O sacking of 800 staff 804:Austin, Ben (6 June 2022). 880: 752:Jee, Alex (6 April 2022). 518:"Brock removal completed" 148:Phase 2 encompasses the 76:, with a section of the 854:Consequences of Brexit 270:Operation Yellowhammer 106:Freedom of Information 30: 859:Disaster preparedness 24: 138:heavy goods vehicles 575:. 12 December 2020 300:New Civil Engineer 38:traffic management 31: 864:Transport in Kent 68:runs between the 871: 821: 820: 818: 816: 801: 795: 794: 792: 790: 775: 769: 768: 766: 764: 749: 743: 742: 740: 738: 723: 717: 716: 714: 712: 707:on 21 March 2022 701:Highways England 693: 687: 686: 684: 682: 667: 661: 660: 658: 656: 641: 635: 634: 632: 630: 616: 610: 609: 607: 605: 591: 585: 584: 582: 580: 565: 559: 558: 556: 554: 539: 533: 532: 530: 528: 513: 507: 506: 504: 502: 487: 481: 480: 478: 476: 462: 456: 455: 453: 451: 446:. 7 January 2019 436: 430: 429: 427: 425: 402: 396: 395: 393: 391: 386:. 7 January 2019 376: 370: 369: 367: 365: 351: 345: 344: 342: 340: 317: 311: 310: 308: 306: 291: 102:Highways England 879: 878: 874: 873: 872: 870: 869: 868: 844: 843: 830: 825: 824: 814: 812: 803: 802: 798: 788: 786: 777: 776: 772: 762: 760: 751: 750: 746: 736: 734: 725: 724: 720: 710: 708: 695: 694: 690: 680: 678: 669: 668: 664: 654: 652: 643: 642: 638: 628: 626: 618: 617: 613: 603: 601: 593: 592: 588: 578: 576: 567: 566: 562: 552: 550: 541: 540: 536: 526: 524: 515: 514: 510: 500: 498: 489: 488: 484: 474: 472: 464: 463: 459: 449: 447: 438: 437: 433: 423: 421: 404: 403: 399: 389: 387: 378: 377: 373: 363: 361: 353: 352: 348: 338: 336: 319: 318: 314: 304: 302: 293: 292: 288: 283: 275:Operation Stack 266: 215: 207:Smart motorways 201:the rehearsal. 198: 190: 166:Manston Airport 162: 146: 134: 126: 90:Operation Stack 62: 46:Operation Stack 34:Operation Brock 17: 12: 11: 5: 877: 875: 867: 866: 861: 856: 846: 845: 842: 841: 836: 829: 828:External links 826: 823: 822: 796: 770: 744: 718: 688: 662: 636: 611: 586: 560: 534: 508: 482: 457: 431: 397: 371: 346: 312: 285: 284: 282: 279: 278: 277: 272: 265: 262: 214: 211: 197: 194: 189: 186: 161: 158: 154:Channel Tunnel 145: 142: 133: 130: 125: 122: 118:European Union 86:Channel Tunnel 61: 58: 50:no-deal Brexit 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 876: 865: 862: 860: 857: 855: 852: 851: 849: 840: 837: 835: 832: 831: 827: 811: 807: 800: 797: 785: 781: 774: 771: 759: 755: 748: 745: 733: 729: 722: 719: 706: 702: 698: 692: 689: 677: 673: 666: 663: 651: 647: 640: 637: 625: 621: 615: 612: 600: 596: 590: 587: 574: 570: 564: 561: 549: 545: 538: 535: 523: 519: 512: 509: 497: 493: 486: 483: 471: 467: 461: 458: 445: 441: 435: 432: 420: 416: 412: 408: 401: 398: 385: 381: 375: 372: 360: 356: 350: 347: 335: 331: 327: 323: 316: 313: 301: 297: 290: 287: 280: 276: 273: 271: 268: 267: 263: 261: 258: 255: 252: 249: 244: 240: 237: 235: 230: 227: 224: 221: 218: 212: 210: 208: 202: 195: 193: 187: 185: 183: 179: 175: 171: 167: 159: 157: 155: 151: 143: 141: 139: 131: 129: 123: 121: 119: 114: 111: 107: 103: 98: 96: 91: 87: 83: 82:Port of Dover 79: 75: 71: 67: 59: 57: 55: 51: 47: 43: 39: 35: 28: 23: 19: 813:. Retrieved 809: 799: 787:. Retrieved 783: 773: 761:. Retrieved 757: 747: 735:. Retrieved 731: 721: 709:. Retrieved 705:the original 700: 691: 679:. Retrieved 675: 665: 653:. Retrieved 649: 639: 627:. Retrieved 623: 614: 602:. Retrieved 598: 589: 577:. Retrieved 572: 563: 551:. Retrieved 547: 537: 525:. Retrieved 521: 511: 499:. Retrieved 495: 485: 473:. Retrieved 469: 460: 448:. Retrieved 443: 434: 422:. Retrieved 411:The Guardian 410: 400: 388:. Retrieved 383: 374: 362:. Retrieved 358: 349: 337:. Retrieved 326:The Guardian 325: 315: 303:. Retrieved 299: 289: 259: 256: 253: 245: 241: 238: 231: 228: 225: 222: 219: 216: 203: 199: 191: 163: 147: 135: 127: 115: 99: 63: 53: 33: 32: 18: 810:Kent Online 784:Kent Online 758:Kent Online 676:Kent Online 629:27 December 604:21 December 579:21 December 553:21 December 527:21 December 522:Kent Online 496:Kent Online 384:Kent Online 234:Coronavirus 113:direction. 848:Categories 364:17 October 281:References 150:contraflow 74:Folkestone 60:Background 40:system in 450:7 January 424:7 January 419:0261-3077 390:7 January 334:0261-3077 789:17 April 737:28 March 732:KentLive 711:28 March 681:28 March 655:23 April 650:KentLive 573:BBC News 548:KentLive 475:15 April 444:BBC News 339:10 April 305:10 April 264:See also 196:Problems 168:via the 84:and the 763:9 April 213:History 188:Phase 4 160:Phase 3 144:Phase 2 132:Phase 1 36:is the 815:6 June 624:GOV.UK 599:GOV.UK 501:16 May 470:GOV.UK 417:  359:GOV.UK 332:  124:Phases 95:Brexit 93:post- 817:2022 791:2022 765:2022 739:2022 713:2022 683:2022 657:2021 631:2020 606:2020 581:2020 555:2020 529:2020 503:2019 477:2019 452:2019 426:2019 415:ISSN 392:2019 366:2019 341:2023 330:ISSN 307:2023 182:A256 178:A299 176:and 174:A249 72:and 64:The 42:Kent 25:The 110:M26 78:A20 70:M25 66:M20 27:M20 850:: 808:. 782:. 756:. 730:. 699:. 674:. 648:. 622:. 597:. 571:. 546:. 520:. 494:. 468:. 442:. 413:. 409:. 382:. 357:. 328:. 324:. 298:. 172:, 170:M2 56:. 819:. 793:. 767:. 741:. 715:. 685:. 659:. 633:. 608:. 583:. 557:. 531:. 505:. 479:. 454:. 428:. 394:. 368:. 343:. 309:.

Index


M20
traffic management
Kent
Operation Stack
no-deal Brexit
M20
M25
Folkestone
A20
Port of Dover
Channel Tunnel
Operation Stack
Brexit
Highways England
Freedom of Information
M26
European Union
heavy goods vehicles
contraflow
Channel Tunnel
Manston Airport
M2
A249
A299
A256
Smart motorways
Coronavirus
P&O sacking of 800 staff
Operation Yellowhammer

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.