Lorry crash blocks M20 between Ashford and Maidstone

Traffic was stopped on the M20[1] this morning (May 23) following a crash. The two-vehicle collision happened on the London-bound carriageway between Junction 9 for Ashford[2] and Junction 8 for Maidstone[3] – near the Operation Brock[4] contraflow system. National Highways and Kent County Council’s (KCC) Highways department said all traffic had been temporarily held while the crash was being responded to.

Traffic was subsequently released at around 10am, although one lane remained closed for a number of hours. The crash had also caused an oil spillage on the motorway. A spokesperson for Kent Police said at the time: “Kent Police was called at 9.08am on Thursday, May 23 to a report of a collision involving a lorry and a car on the London-bound M20 between junctions 9 and 8.

“Officers attended to assist with clearing the road and recovering the vehicles.” At the incident’s peak, delays reached 90 minutes on approach, with queues stretching over eight miles along the M20. All lanes were re-opened at around 1.15pm and congestion began to ease soon after. Following an overnight closure, Operation Brock is now in place on the M20 between Maidstone and Ashford ahead of the bank holiday weekend.

With the contraflow in place, drivers have already faced travel disruption along the key motorway.

You can find our live blog of this incident as it unfolded below.

References

1. ^ M20 (www.kentlive.news)
2. ^ Ashford (www.kentlive.news)
3. ^ Maidstone (www.kentlive.news)
4. ^ Operation Brock (www.kentlive.news)
5. ^ Suspected air rifle ‘fired into the air’ in Kent street (www.kentlive.news)
6. ^ Buses to replace trains in major Kent towns this weekend (www.kentlive.news)