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M20 Works - Movable Barrier

By Julie Miller Birling Parish Council

Monday, 31 August 2020

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Birling Parish Council Contributor

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Important information to our stakeholders Upcoming works on the M20 for the Moveable Barrier Solution project (part of Operation BROCK) As an organisation involved with our motorway network, I am writing to let you know of the essential works which are due to start on the M20 Motorway between Junctions 8 and 9 from Tuesday 1st September at 9pm. We require overnight closures of the M20 Londonbound to install 7.5mile of temporary steel barriers in order to protect our workforce while they deliver a range of works concurrently to minimise the works programme, and impact to road users and yourselves our stakeholders. The Department for Transport announced in February 2020 that a new Moveable Barrier System will be deployed on the M20 when required as part of a contraflow to permit the motorway and junctions to remain open during Channel ports disruption. The system will allow port-bound lorries to be held on the motorway while all other traffic continues to have access to the motorway in both directions. Unlike the previous solution we implemented in 2019, this new Moveable Barrier System allows the M20 to be returned to normal conditions at 70mph when not required within several hours instead of weeks. Our works consists of the installation of temporary barriers, pavement repairs, gully and manhole ironworks repairs, roadmarkings and studs works, and the installation of the new Moveable Barriers at the back of the M20 London bound hard-shoulder. Where full closures of the M20 are required, these will be overnight during the hours of 9pm to 6am. The motorway will remain open during the day, operating with narrow lanes at 50mph past the 7.5mile stretch where temporary barriers are installed and works are in progress. There are no full closures during Saturday nights. We have also planned our works to avoid overnight closures during the October half term from the Friday 23rd to 2nd November. We also have works on the M20 Coastbound, however these can be delivered with overnight lane closures only and will require a speed reduction to 60mph past the works areas. We aim to complete the works by mid-November, however we have built in contingency time until end November in case of unforeseen circumstances such as poor weather which could affect our schedule. Please check our roadworks website at this link before you plan any journeys. https://highwaysengland.co.uk/travel-updates/find-roadworks/. Also, please check the M20 Moveable Barrier Solution Project’s website for the latest information about the project: https://highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/south-east/m20-junction-8-to-9-moveablebarrier/ Signed diversion routes will be in place whenever we close the M20 London bound between Junctions 9 and 8, and I summarise the routes we will use as follows. • The Junction 9 to 8 London bound diversion route will mean traffic is diverted from junction 9 via the A20 to re-join the M20 at junction 8. • Vehicles over 4.7m high need to follow a different route, which is to turn around at junction 9 to re-join the M20 towards Dover, then the A20, the A2, then the M2. Drivers should then leave the M2 for the A249, to re-join the M20 at junction 7 and head back towards junction 8. This work has been planned with Kent Resilience Forum partners, including Kent Police and Kent County Council. Please contact us on 0300 123 5000 or reach the M20 Project Team direct via this email address ([email protected]) for any queries you have and we will be glad to assist you. You can also follow us on twitter @HighwaysEnglandSEAST I would like to thank you in advance for your understanding, patience and support during these essential works. Yours faithfully, Manish Somrah, Project Manager, Highways England

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