The port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel handle 90% of freight traffic between the UK and mainland Europe, with the M20 motorway being the main connection between the M25 and Dover. So when something stops traffic being able to cross, whether it be from rough seas or strikes, the traffic has to go somewhere. The alternative is congestion quickly spreading over a wide area and causing chaos.

So in some ways operation stack is the lesser of two evils, as although it isn’t a perfect solution, it is better than nothing at all.

 

Introduced in 1988, operation stack was put in place in response to a strike called by the National Union of Seamen at Folkestone Docks, and worked well to contain the congestion. But in 1988 the freight traffic traveling along the M20 was a tiny proportion of what it is now. The channel tunnel was only just beginning construction, and the freight traffic passing through the port of Dover was around 800,000 a year. Now, with the port and channel tunnel traffic combined, there are at least 20 million freight vehicles a year making the crossing. With this huge increase in traffic, it’s no wonder that operation stack is no longer fit for purpose.

This summer, freight companies, drivers, as well as people living and owning businesses in the surrounding area have all been affected by the gridlock. Not to mention the effect it has on Kent’s local authorities that have to pick up the bill for what is really a national issue.

So what are the alternatives?

Manston airport was suggested as a temporary solution, but isn’t ideal as it is 50 miles off the M20 along an a-road which isn’t used to seeing that volume of traffic. It has been suggested that building lorry parks along the M20 would be a viable alternative, and it surely makes sense to have lorries parked off the motorway, but the problem comes with finding suitable land.

Current plans involve a combination of solutions designed to be a permanent replacement for operation stack, but are estimated to cost £456 million. This includes improving the A20 in and around Dover to increase capacity and remove bottlenecks, building a new lorry park off the M20 that would have a capacity of 4,000 vehicles, and extending the STOP24 lorry park at Folkestone to hold 1,000 more vehicles.

The proposed solution would hold up to 6,500 HGVs in total, with only 1,500 of them still parked on the M20. This isn’t a perfect solution, but is a big improvement on the 4,600 HGVs that were stuck on the M20 this Summer during the Calais migrant crises and stikes.

At Bridge Fleet Solutions, we are experts in safety, and offer a range of solutions designed to improve fleet safety, while saving money. Be sure to get in touch to see how we can help you.  For further information please contact us at info@bridgefleetsolutions.co.uk or give us a call on 0208 402 2350