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Delays in Folkestone and Dover after TAP implemented

Queues are building as a large number of lorries head for Kent's ports for the fifth time in little over a week.

Dover TAP, short for Traffic Assessment Project, has been implemented on the coastbound A20 at Aycliffe due to high volumes of freight heading towards the port.

The Dover Traffic Access Protocol (TAP) scheme on the A20 at Aycliffe has been implemented due to heavy freight volumes
The Dover Traffic Access Protocol (TAP) scheme on the A20 at Aycliffe has been implemented due to heavy freight volumes

Kent County Council highways announced at 6.30am: "The Dover TAP scheme has been put in place to prevent portbound traffic from disrupting the local road network and the A20 through Dover town."

It means a 40mph speed restriction will apply to all vehicles approaching Dover from the west via the A20.

When traffic reaches high volumes vehicles will be held at temporary traffic lights until space becomes available.

In addition lay-bys in the area will be closed, as will be the coastbound on slip at the Courtwood junction on occasion.

There are also currently delays on the M20 coastbound between junctions 11 and 11a due to high volumes of freight traffic heading towards Eurotunnel.

It is the fifth day since last Tuesday such queues have mounted, after four consecutive days of problems last week.

Dover TAP is the first of five stages comprising Operation Brock, designed to maintain traffic flow in the county during busy freight periods.

In the full Operation Brock, Dover TAP will be succeeded by the M20 J8-9 contraflow system - in which lorries would use the eastbound carriageway as a holding station.

There are fears that a no-deal Brexit could see traffic issues in the area for months at a time.

Avoid getting stuck on Kent's roads by keeping up-to-date on all of the latest traffic and travel news here or by following our live blog.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

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