An MP has renewed calls for road improvements after the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel both announced freight traffic records.

Charlie Elphick, the MP for Dover and Deal, said the growth of the two cross-Channel routes highlights the importance of dueling single-lane sections of the A2 at Lydden and Whitfield.

Last Wednesday, 10,558 freight vehicles were handled by the port.

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The Port of Dover recorded its busiest day ever for freight traffic on Wednesday, November 23, with 10,558 freight vehicles travelling through the site – up nearly 500 on the previous all-time high.

Meanwhile, Eurotunnel said it surpassed its previous record year for truck traffic on Friday, overtaking the 1,483,741 carried in 2015.

Mr Elphicke said: “It’s great that the port is hitting record levels of freight. It underlines just how vital our port is to the national and local economy.

“But the only way it can keep growing without gridlock is if we invest in our roads.

“It’s why we’ve fought to get a lorry park on the M20.

“But we must not stop there. That’s why I’ve been making the case to the Prime Minister and Chancellor for the A2 to be dualled.

“It’s time we got proper investment on the roads in our corner of Kent.”

It comes just after the close of a wider KCC consultation into the Kent road network called Local Transport Plan 4: Delivering Growth Without Gridlock 2016-2031. It touched on the widening of the road.

The port’s chief executive Tim Waggott said: “Dover continues to play a critical role in ensuring that the UK’s trading relationships with our European partners remain strong as we move towards Brexit.

“As we approach the busy festive season for freight and passenger traffic, we will be doing all we can to keep the traffic moving in order to ensure the nation’s shops remain stocked and people get away for their well-earned breaks.”

The freight records builds on a 3% growth in truck traffic during the third quarter of 2016.

There has been 30% growth in freight in the past three years at the ferry port – Europe’s busiest – which handles 17% of the UK’s trade in goods.

In Folkestone, the Eurotunnel increased Le Shuttle freight by more than 12% over the first 10 months of the year, largely outperforming the market, which only increased by 5%.

Jo Willacy, Eurotunnel commercial director, said: “Our business creates extraordinary value for our customers who are themselves confident in their outlook for 2017. The investment programme we have pursued, will ensure that we are able to continue this growth through the coming years.”