M20 in Kent

The Motorway M20 often gets filled with traffic, because it is the main route between the London Orbital Motorway M25 and the Channel crossing ports.

This is not everyday ~ but it happens. .

The M20 is closed southbound between junctions eight and nine

 From the above picture which is from the BBC we see a few traffic violations taking place.


The backlog prompted the closure of the M20 between the Maidstone and Ashford turn-offs to allow for the complex operation to shift non-freight traffic off the motorway and onto the A20 to make room for the hundreds of lorries waiting to board ferries and trains for France.

If you are taking this route, it may be good also to have a back up plan if you hit traffic like this. I say this as if you have a navigator and you turn off, it will keep looking for the next opportunity to get back in the M20.

Remember the A20 was the main route before the Motorway was built. It will take you to the Channel Crossing. This is well worth remembering.