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M26 ‘to become Brexit lorry park’ says newspaper
[ October 12, 2018 // Chris ]Work is to start on turning the M26 motorway in Kent into an emergency lorry park, according to a report in the Guardian newspaper. Overnight closures for surveying work have already started and there will be further closures in December to install gates in the central reservation.
The M26 forms a triangle with the London orbital M25 and the M20 to and from Dover and the Channel Tunnel and is used mainly as a shortcut by traffic heading from south London to the coast. Traffic heading to and from the Channel ports could however continue on the M25 and join the M20 at its junction at times when the M26 is in use as a lorry park.
Using the M26 as an overflow lorry park during times of disruption, in addition to a section of the M20 in Kent, has been advocated by many in the past, including the Freight Transport Association.
According to the Guarrdian Local MP Tom Tugendhat has accused the government on reneging on assurances, although transport secretary Chris Grayling was quick to state that the measure would probably not be needed in the aftermath of Brexit.
The extra lorry space would however be useful in the event of other disruptions to cross-Channel traffic, besides Brexit, such as the recent immigrants’ crisis, ferry strikes and blockades.