The national speed limit will be reinstated on the A20 between Dover and Folkestone.

Highways England said today that the present permanent 40mph restriction for Dover TAP will instead alternate between 40 and the national 60mph limit by early next year.

New signs on the coastbound carriageway will switch from the national speed limit to 40mph for Dover TAP (Traffic Assessment Phase), the scheme which cuts congestion by limiting the number of vehicles through the town at busy periods at the port.

This will reinstate, at quieter times, the national speed limit along the A20 which was reduced to 40mph in April 2015, for TAP.

Highways England regional safety coordinator Colin Gardner said: “Dover TAP has been successfully reducing the congestion on the A20 through the town at busy times.

“We are installing signs on the coastbound A20 that will allow us to change the speed limit when Dover TAP is in operation to improve journey times and reliability.”

Dover TAP has been used by the Port of Dover almost 200 times since its introduction.

But it has also caused complaints from drivers who say they have to travel at an artificially slow speed, event when the road is quiet, or get fined.

Motorists have instead used alternative routes and Capel-le-Ferne Parish Council has complained that drivers have used that village’s B2011 as a rat run, going too fast.

Tim Waggott, chief executive of the Port of Dover, stated: “This is fantastic news - a major milestone in the enhancement of Dover’s road network.

“These investments will all help keep Dover town moving while 17 per cent of the UK’s international trade moves through the Port, serving British businesses and consumers.

“We thank Highways England for their perseverance, our community stakeholders will be delighted with the delivery of the new signs.

"TAP has been of great benefit in supporting free moving traffic in Dover at busy times, and we look forward to this valuable system being improved.”

Highways England says that during Dover TAP, a 40mph speed limit will be in place between the Roundhill Tunnels at Folkestone and Aycliffe but will revert to the national speed limit at other times.

The lower speed is required due to the likelihood of queuing traffic on the A20.
Detailed designs are continuing for the new signs, which will be installed in first half of 2017.

Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke said: “This is a victory for our hard fought campaign and it is good to see highways chiefs have finally caved in to pressure following my recent meeting with them.

“While it is welcome that they are going to do this we must see through the ending of the A20’s permanent 40mph speed limit.