Stacks Back: French Port Blockade Forces M20 Coastbound Closure

Strike action by French fishermen has led to the implementation of Operation Stack on the M20 in Kent to ease jams caused by Dover-bound lorries. The Port of Dover to all ferry traffic after the ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne were blockaded, and there have been no sailings since 6am.

The coastbound M20 has been closed between junction eight for Leeds Castle and junction nine for Ashford West. The carriageway is being used to park lorries before directing them through to either the Channel Tunnel or Dover. Other traffic is being diverted from junction eight onto the A20.

Kent Police said phase one of Operation Stack between junctions 11 and 12 coastbound was not in place as part of the current measure.

Motorists are being urged to plan their journeys in the run-up to the bank holiday weekend, to carry water and food in case of queues, and to check with cross-Channel ferry operators before setting off for scheduled sailings. Eurotunnel is running normally.