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Heavy traffic in Dover after A2 Jubilee Way closed due to Operation Brock as lorries wait for disrupted ferry services

Traffic in Dover is at a standstill as Operation Brock continues to cause travel chaos.

The A2 Jubilee Way is closed coast-bound as lorries wait for ferry services, which are severely disrupted.

Lorries queuing for Operation Brock. Picture: Kent Police RPU (55839957)
Lorries queuing for Operation Brock. Picture: Kent Police RPU (55839957)

The road is shut between the Whitfield roundabout and the Eastern Docks roundabout, with congestion stretching back to London Road in Dover.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We are aware of queues at Dover, and the Kent Resilience Forum and local partners are working to minimise any disruption by deploying temporary traffic-management measures as standard."

The hold-ups mean Dover has turned into a no-go zone, with nearby residents unable to go by car to shops or work.

It comes after huge delays yesterday, when traffic stretched for miles on the M2 and M20.

The gridlock is also affecting bus services, with Stagecoach South East tweeting: "Expect severe disruption to our services today. Freight traffic is now parked on the main road A256 from Crabble Hill all the way into town.

Lorries queuing at the Port of Dover. Picture: Stuart Brock
Lorries queuing at the Port of Dover. Picture: Stuart Brock

"Buckland Ave, Barton Road, Maison Dieu Road and Pencester Road are currently inaccessible. No services will run from Pencester Road."

Nick Gale, a teacher who is travelling with his family to Calais for a trip to Amsterdam, said they have been stuck for “over two hours” and missed the ferry they were booked on.

“No communication at all from port staff. Policeman said it was basically the perfect storm, less ferries… plus bad weather and (the) P&O issue,” he told the PA news agency.

Mr Gale criticised the “awful” communication around Dover, saying non-freight travellers were left in the dark about what to do.

“I think around Dover it’s awful, there is no communication for what non-freight customers (are) to do. We’re local to the area so knew a couple of ways to beat the huge queues but it’s literally not moving,” he said.

“We’ve got no food and an eight-year-old in the back moaning.”

Meanwhile, the M20 is being used to hold lorries and remains closed coast-bound between junction 8 for Leeds Castle and junction 9 for Ashford.

The motorway is closed to all non-freight traffic heading to the coast, but the London-bound side remains open.

Lorries queuing in Maison Dieu Road, Dover. Picture: Kevin Clark
Lorries queuing in Maison Dieu Road, Dover. Picture: Kevin Clark

Elsewhere, in Folkestone, the Roundhill Tunnel was shut coast-bound to prevent stationary queues inside the tunnel from junction 13 of the M20 for Folkestone to the A260 Canterbury Road.

The A20 was also closed east-bound due to the build-up of lorries trying to access the Channel Tunnel.

The tunnels reopened at around 6.30pm but Tap remained in place.

Long queues of lorries at the Port of Dover. Picture: Stuart Brock
Long queues of lorries at the Port of Dover. Picture: Stuart Brock

Families hoping to get away for the Easter school holidays, which start today, are facing disruption on the ferries.

DFDS is running a severely reduced service due to adverse weather conditions, with customers advised not to travel to the port unless "absolutely essential".

Irish Ferries services are also impacted by the weather, with passengers being warned to expect extended periods of waiting.

Services remain suspended on P&O Ferries between Dover and Calais, and Cairnryan and Larne, affecting both passenger and freight services.

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