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Barrier solution for Stack
Page 10
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A E12.6m Quick Moveable Barrier should help to reduce the chaos
caused during Operation Stack Roanna Avison reports.
THE GOVERNMENT has agreed to invest £12.6m in a Quick Movable Barrier (QMB) to help Kent Police manage the issues caused by Operation Stack.
Currently, if there is disruption at the ports of Dover or Folkestone and Phase 1 of Operation Stack has to be implemented, the coastbound carriageway of the M20 is closed between Junctions I 1 and 12, and LGVs heading for the ports are parked on the motorway. Other traffic is diverted onto the A20.
But following pressure from Kent County Council (KCC) for action to reduce traffic delays caused by Operation Stack and a meeting between KCC and Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman last month (CM 24 May), this should no longer happen.
Using the WM will quickly provide a contraflow on the Londonbound carriageway and allow all motorway traffic to remain on the road rather than be diverted onto the A20. With the QMB, two lanes will stay open in both directions.
Ladyman says the government believes the QMB can be in place within a year and will provide an effective way of improving the situation when Operation Stack is implemented.
-Ultimately, the vision we share with Kent County Council (KCC) and Kent Police is for a lorry park to hold vehicles during the closure of [the ports]," Ladyman says.
He adds that the government is also investigating the possibility of increasing the capacity of Phase Ito J10 on the M20 as an alternative to the current Phase 2 which uses the stretch of road between J8 and J9.
KCC cabinet member for highways Keith Ferrin says: "I'm pleased the government is prepared to work with us on this as we develop a more permanent solution to the tailbacks and holdups caused by Operation Stack."
The council made it clear to Ladyman that it would prefer an off-road truck park and had identified a priority site between Folkestone andAshford.The council says it is prepared to carry out further investigations into this option.
Ferrin says:-The government has given us a positive signal and that's good. It's a step in the right direction and we'll carry on our efforts on behalf of all Kent's road users.
"A truck park offers the best medium to long-term solution to this problem. There are local concerns about the site, but these can be overcome."