The overflow of freight vehicles is causing serious delays

Traffic is at a standstill on the M20 in Kent after an overflow of vehicles heading towards the port at Dover. As part of Operation Brock, the M20 eastbound is now closed to car drivers to hold the long queue of waiting lorries.

Drivers can no longer travel eastbound between J8 ( Maidstone ) and J9 ( Ashford ) whilst measures are put in place to manage traffic. National Highways has said there is "severe congestion on approach to the contraflow system in place".

Operation Brock is part of a series of measures which is supposed to help local traffic flow in the event of disruption to services across the English Channel. National Highways say this is a precautionary measure in response to the ongoing reduced ferry capacity at the Port of Dover.

READ MORE: Dover locals 'fed up' of Operation Brock M20 traffic misery as town brought to standstill

Inrix reports: "The road is closed to all non-freight traffic heading Eastbound. The London bound side of the road remains open to all traffic."

Delays have been ongoing in the Kent area with slow moving traffic and diversions in place on the A2 Jubilee Way Eastbound (which is closed for traffic management) and at the A20 Roundhill Tunnel Eastbound. You can follow updates of these closures on our KentLive traffic and travel blog.

KentLive will keep you updated on the situation on the M20 closure as and when they happen. If you have an update for us, get in touch by messaging us on Twitter @kentlivenews or on Facebook.

A2 Jubilee Way coastbound closed due to traffic management to prevent lorries from trying to bypass the holding areas between A258 (St Margaret's At Cliffe / Deal Rondabout ) and A20 (Eastern Docks roundabout). Diversion - non freight traffic is using Castle Hill Road.

M20 coastbound closed due to the motorway being used to hold lorries heading for the channel crossings between J8 (Leeds Castle / Maidstone Services) and J11 ( Hythe / Westenhanger). The London bound side remains open to all traffic.

Lots of knock-on effects from the traffic build-up. Inrix reports:

Latest update fromInrix traffic monitoring system says:

M20 coastbound closed due to the motorway being used to hold lorries heading for the channel crossings between J8 (Leeds Castle / Maidstone Services) and J11 (Hythe / Westenhanger).

The London bound side remains open to all traffic.

Diversion - local traffic as well as Eurotunnel cars and holiday traffic use the A20 instead.

All freight traffic for Eurotunnel or Dover must go through this holding area.

There are reportedly talks between various groups surrounding the provision of portable toilets along the roadside for those drivers who are stuck in queues for extended periods of time.

Is it possible to place portable toilets at set intervals in Operation Brock? Many drivers have been stuck in there for double-digit hours.

National Highways have also offered advice on diversions for those using the M20.

All other coastbound traffic will be diverted off the M20 and on to the A20/A28/B2229/A2042/A2070/A20 to re-join the M20 at junction 11

Diversions are being implemented to try and reduce delays on the M20 and the surrounding roads after the closures were extended to J11.

Diversion - local traffic as well as Eurotunnel cars and holiday traffic use the A20 instead. Cars and holiday traffic for Dover should use the M2 and A2. All freight traffic for Eurotunnel or Dover must go through this holding area.

Lorries are still seen to be queuing for miles as they try to get to the Channel crossings.

A lack of ferries has caused an already busy service to become overrun with freight trucks.

The closure of the M20 is to be extended to J11 to create additional holding capacity.

It is hoped this will help to reduce delays towards J7 and J8 of the M20.

The #M20 coastbound closure for #OperationBrock between J8 and J9 is in the process of being extended to J11 to allow additional capacity and reduce delays on the M20 J7 to J8. For further details click here: https://t.co/dc0FuouYql

Over the past few days, truckers have voiced their fury at the delays caused by Operation Brock.

One lorry driver admitted he had been stuck in Dover for more than 32 hours.

For more information on his story, click here.

The A20 Roundhill Tunnel has now reopened after being closed to help prevent lorries queueing in the tunnel.

The #A20 Roundhill Tunnel east/coastbound between the #M20 J13 and the #A260 #Hawkinge has now been re-opened.

The AA Traffic News website is showing that there are still huge queues on the M20 as a result of the closure of the coastbound section of the road due to Operation Brock.

Traffic cameras show non-freight traffic being held up on the M20 after the road was closed due to Operation Brock.

Freight lorries can be seen parked up bumper to bumper on the M20 whilst they are held on the road before heading to the Channel crossings.

Motorists prepare to face the M20 and the delays caused by Operation Brock with one traveller saying their husband has even resorted to using an in car kettle.

The Husband will be leaving the office in 45 mins unless a meeting overruns. It's not looking good on the M20. Traffic only doing 42mph Jct 2 eastbound. He has 4WD Volvo w/heated seats & steering wheel, Barbour, in-car kettle so #OperationBrockReady

The M20 eastbound entry slip road is currently closed to prevent further queues from forming on the road.

Traffic site Inrix have said:

M20 Eastbound entry slip road closed, queueing traffic due to traffic management to prevent more people joining delays further along at J7 A249 (Maidstone / Detling Hill). Congestion to The A20 between Hollingbourne and Harrietsham is also slow as traffic diverts.

The slip road has been closed to prevent traffic joining the queues.

Locals from Dover have expressed their frustration at Operation Brock and the negative affect it is having on their town.

Speaking with KentLive, one woman said: "The authorities knew something like this could happen so where were they? Who's going to actually take responsibility for this and sort it out?"

For more information on this story, click here.

Queues are persisting on the M20 as a result of Operation Brock with traffic cameras showing the extent of the queues.

National Highways has issued diversion routes for drivers:

Local traffic is advised to follow route marked by the hollow circle diversion symbol on local road signs

EU freight traffic should leave the M20 at the J8 exit slip road and rejoin the M20 via the entry slip road at J8.

Inrix reports traffic extends back to J7 / A249 (Maidstone)

Inrix reports that: "The road is closed to all non-freight traffic heading Eastbound. The London bound side of the road remains open to all traffic."

Video footage from UK News In pictures shows lengthy queues of lorried along the M20

National Highways has issued diversion routes for drivers:

Local traffic is advised to follow route marked by the hollow circle diversion symbol on local road signs

EU freight traffic should leave the M20 at the J8 exit slip road and rejoin the M20 via the entry slip road at J8.