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Queues build at Port of Dover as TAP put in place and trees down amid Storm Barra

17:18, 07 December 2021

updated: 22:02, 07 December 2021

Dover TAP is back in place due to large volumes of traffic and strong gale force winds at the Port.

There were major queues on the coastbound carriageway of the A20 which was closed between junction 13 of the M20 at Folkestone and the A260 at Hawkinge.

Dover TAP is in place again. Photo: UK News in Pictures (53576859)
Dover TAP is in place again. Photo: UK News in Pictures (53576859)

The closure was to prevent queuing traffic in the Roundhill Tunnel.

There were delays of 30 minutes on M20 and more than two miles of congestion.

Huge queues formed at the Port of Dover which resulted in 'Dover Tap' being activated.

Problems have been added to by the stormy weather which saw the Met Office put a gale warning in place as of 4pm.

Severe winds of gale force 9 were veering southwesterly but were expected to decrease.

There are long delays at the Port where strong gale force winds are present. Photo: UK News in Pictures
There are long delays at the Port where strong gale force winds are present. Photo: UK News in Pictures

Across the county there has been numerous reports of problems owing to Storm Barra.

On the rails, a fallen tree near Sittingbourne led to delays for commuters.

Network Rail apologised for the hold up, which hit services at about 6pm, with the tree being removed by 6.40pm.

Brady Rd in Lyminge, near Folkestone was blocked due to a fallen tree from Farthing Common to Woodland Road.

Near Ashford, White Hill was partially blocked for the same reason from A28 Canterbury Road to A251 Buck Street.

A tree also fell near the The Rose and Crown pub in Hartlip, near Sittingbourne, which obstructed Lower Hartlip Road.

And in Snodland drivers were asked to approach Sandhole with care due to fallen power cables in Hollow Lane.

Meanwhile, the motorists caught up in the gridlock on the approach to Dover were advised to follow designated diversions and plan ahead.

National Highways advised drivers to exit the M20 at junction 13 and join the A259 at Churchill Avenue and travel east towards the A260 Canterbury Road before turning north onto the A260 and travel towards the Spitfire Way roundabout junction at Hawkinge.

Dover TAP is a temporary traffic management system which queues port-bound lorries in the nearside left lane of the A20 after the Roundhill Tunnel to prevent Dover becoming congested.

A 40mph speed restriction applies to all vehicles approaching Dover via the A20 which operates all day, every day.

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