Highways England has decided to remove the contraflow on the M20 in Kent which introduced at the end of Coronavirus restrictions to cope with an anticipated rise in travel to France.

The moveable barrier will be removed overnight this Saturday and will see the M20 return to three full width lanes at the national speed limit in both directions.  

The barrier was put in place on a 15-mile section of the M20 between junction 8 (Maidstone) and 9 (Ashford) on Saturday 17 July, as a precautionary measure. Highways England says it has agreed with the Kent Resilience Forum and the Department for Transport it is the right time to deactivate the contraflow. 

The work to remove the contraflow will be completed under a full closure of the M20 on the coastbound from junctions 7 to 9, and on the Londonbound from junctions 9 to 8 from 8pm on Saturday 31 July until 8am on Sunday 1 August. Highways England says this work has been carefully planned over the weekend to reduce disruption. 

Once removed, the moveable barrier will sit along the M20 should the contraflow be re-activated for any future cross-channel disruption. 

(Picture – Highways England)