The government is bracing for Brexit disruption at the end of the year with £60m plans for a moveable concrete barrier to prevent traffic jams sparked by cross-Channel chaos.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that no-deal plans for metal barriers on the M20 motorway in Kent have been scrapped in favour of a San Francisco-style moveable barrier.

The new concrete blockade can be erected within hours and will replace the Operation Brock barriers, which were removed in January and would have taken a month to reinstall.

Critics said the announcement "stinks of a Conservative government fully expecting disruption" and urged Boris Johnson to take the prospect of a no-deal Brexit off the table.

The prime minister has repeatedly insisted that the UK has left the EU with a deal so a chaotic departure is no longer a threat.

But his answers gloss over the real threat of disruption if the UK fails to secure a trade deal at the end of the Brexit transition period ends in December.

Downing Street is pursuing a Canada-style trade deal with the EU but has made it clear the UK walk away with an "Australian-style" agreement - which a senior EU figure dubbed "code for a no-deal".

It comes after the Department for Transport (DfT) was derided for spending nearly £50,000 organising a fake traffic jam as part of its no-deal preparations last year.

The department pointedly made no mention of Brexit in its announcement of the new moveable barrier, which has been deployed in Sydney, Vancouver and San Francisco.

Mr Shapps said: “After listening to frustrated residents and businesses affected by Operations Brock and Stack, we’ve invested in a new solution to boost Kent’s resilience and keep its vital road network moving, even at times of disruption.

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After 47 years in the European fold, the country leaves the EU at 11:00pm (2300 GMT) on Friday, with a handful of the most enthusiastic supporters gathering opposite the Houses of Parliament 12 hours before the final countdown. (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES / AFP) (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images) ISABEL INFANTES AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People wave British Union Jack flags as they celebrate Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square on Brexit day Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: Pro Brexit supporters gather ahead of the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave at Parliament Square on January 31, 2020 in London, England. At 11.00pm on Friday 31st January the UK and Northern Ireland exits the European Union, 188 weeks after the referendum on June 23rd, 2016. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporter wave Union flags as they wait near a statue of British war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill, for the festivities to begin in Parliament Square, the venue for the Leave Means Leave Brexit Celebration in central London on January 31, 2020, the day that the UK formally leaves the European Union. - Brexit supporters gathered outside parliament on Friday to cheer Britain's departure from the European Union following three years of epic political drama -- but for others there were only tears. After 47 years in the European fold, the country leaves the EU at 11:00pm (2300 GMT) on Friday, with a handful of the most enthusiastic supporters gathering opposite the Houses of Parliament 12 hours before the final countdown. (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES / AFP) (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images) ISABEL INFANTES AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters gather in Parliament Square, London, as the UK prepares to leave the European Union after 47 years. PA Photo. Picture date: Friday January 31, 2020. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire Jonathan Brady PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: Pro Brexit supporters gather ahead of the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave at Parliament Square on January 31, 2020 in London, England. At 11.00pm on Friday 31st January the UK and Northern Ireland exits the European Union, 188 weeks after the referendum on June 23rd, 2016. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People draped in UK flags walks across Parliament Square during a rainfall in London, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. 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“This state-of-the-art technology can be deployed quickly, simply and safely, ensuring motorists across the county can get to where they need to be with minimum fuss, whatever the circumstances.”

The move also means an end to planning for enormous lorry parks to ease congestion on the roads.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “With the transition period quickly unravelling, this announcement stinks of a Conservative government fully expecting disruption.

“Kent deserves better than being turned into a car park because of Boris Johnson’s reckless unwillingness to take a no-deal off the table.

“Not only must a no-deal be taken off the table, but ministers must make clear with the public how much was wasted on Operation Brock despite opposition warnings.”

A spokesman for the pro-EU Best for Britain campaign said the barriers would be "no substitute for the ease with which our border currently operates".

“Without committing to the same standards as Europe, we will naturally face disruption at our borders," the spokesman said.