Jack Cousens, the AA’s head of road policy, said motorists are trying to find alternative routes in the Eurotunnel and warned that “many wait several hours” to get to the terminal.
He said: “Dover has now recovered, but Folkestone has become the hot spot of holiday hell.
“Drivers going to Folkestone need to be prepared. We have seen many wait several hours before arriving at the terminal, so all vehicle checks prior to travel are essential, along with bringing plenty of food, water and entertainment for younger travelers.”
Drivers moved ‘meters in hours’
Manesh Luthra, a father of three, told the BBC his family had left their home in Essex at 4am on Saturday and reached the Folkestone terminal in 2 hours, but instead of boarding their shuttle at 7:50 a.m., they were stuck in traffic for 9 p.m.
“We joined at the back of the line for what was the worst 21 hours we’ve been through,” he said. “We have moved meters in hours.”
He said there was no information or supplies and other drivers were cutting the line, adding: “It was savage, I was afraid there would be an accident.”
Eurotunnel said it had regular service, with an estimated processing time of about 90 minutes between check-in and boarding.
John Keefe, the director of public affairs, said: “We can’t do more than what we do. We don’t manage the roads and we don’t manage the highways.”
There is a dispute over who is responsible for the backlog in Dover, which in turn has led to the backlog of traffic to Kent and the Channel Tunnel.