Kent police warned Sunday that motorists face waits of 10 hours or longer on major roads leading to the Dover ferry port or the Channel Tunnel for crossings to France.
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This morning people were told to expect delays of ten hours on the A20, with around 12 miles of queuing traffic back to junction 11 of the M20.
“We would nevertheless like to apologise to the passengers whose holidays were affected and assure them that we will be talking to the British and French authorities this week to ensure that there is no repetition of this disruption”, she added.
Highways England said they had been working hard to keep people informed of progress on their routes.
A Sikh humanitarian relief organisation also pitched in with the effort, delivering almost 6,000 bottles of water along with snacks to the stranded motorists.
Highways England said: “All traffic is being advised to use the M20/A20 as the A2 is at a standstill into the Port of Dover”.
Kent Police have issued a warning to motorists planning to travel through the port to carry food and water and check with travel operators before setting off.
French authorities have increased controls at the border in the wake of terror threats, and combined with a larger number of people taking a summer break, it has resulted in hours of delays for motorists in the area.
A multiple sclerosis sufferer travelling to Germany for stem cell treatment was among those forced to spend the night in their vehicles.
What should have been a straightforward journey to Dover turned into a 20-hour ordeal for 50-year-old Tanya Cudworth, who was travelling to a Frankfurt clinic.
A spokesman said: “We sympathise with those trapped in the traffic”.
The delays, at the start of the school holidays, are being worsened by tighter security checks being demanded by French border police at Dover and Eurotunnel following the recent terror attacks in France.
Once in the port motorists faced a further 90 minutes to reach the French border checks.
“Border Force officers have been working around the clock to assist their French counterparts – and we stand ready to assist in any other way needed”.
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The Government said as well as increased help with border checks, Kent police will be “proactively managing” traffic to get drivers through more quickly.
