M20 Chaos: London-Bound Lane Shut After Early Morning HGV Crash
The M20 between junctions 9 and 8 is gridlocked after a lone HGV veered across the carriageway in a crash at dawn. Both London-bound and coast-bound lanes shut tight from as early as 5am this Friday.
Coastbound Reopens, London-Bound Still Locked
The coastbound lane finally reopened just after 11:30am, but the London-bound carriage remains closed. Stranded motorists and HGV drivers face torturous delays on a diversion route plagued by roadworks controlled by traffic lights.
Motorists Stuck in Snail-Paced Traffic While Workers Joke
Despite thousands stuck in jams, workers in the closed section were seen joking and laughing amid the chaos. The traffic lights are allowing a measly 5 to 6 vehicles through at a time, forcing many drivers to endure nearly three hours crawling along the diversion.
Barrier Repairs Cause Further Delays Amid Wasted Resources
A vast amount of barrier repair is needed to make the scene safe — frustratingly, millions of pounds worth of barrier lie unused just yards away. The M20 is also scheduled for a test of portable barriers today as part of Operation Broc, aiming to speed up future road repairs.
Highways England and Kent County Council have been contacted for comment.
