NewsUK NewsHolidaysRoads around the Port of Dover are 'heavily congested' again this morning with waiting times of more than four hours - all while heatwave temperatures surge10:49, 23 May 2026Updated 10:57, 23 May 2026French authorities have suspended new EU border checks as waiting times grew to more than four hours for holidaymakers at the Port of Dover - all while temperatures hit heatwave levels in the UK.‌The boss of the Port of Dover said French authorities have suspended the new EU border checks in order to allow traffic to run more smoothly. The new Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated border system that replaces physical passport stamping for non-EU nationals visiting the Schengen area, and has been causing chaos for Brits at airports and port across the continent.‌Thousands of passengers have been stuck waiting in their cars in sweltering temperatures for what should have been an enjoyable start to breaks abroad.‌By lunchtime on Friday, there were wait times of between 150 and 180 minutes to get through what is known as the buffer zone at the Port of Dover.This morning Holidaymakers were reportedly experiencing waiting times of more than four hours at the Port of Dover due to the chaos following the introduction of the new EU digital automated border system.Doug Bannister, Port of Dover chief executive warned yesterday of traffic chaos today (Saturday) as holidaymakers tried to get away amid delays caused by the new system.‌He said: “We’re looking at about 8,000 cars on Saturday, so that is going to be the busiest of the three days. Our busy time for cars tends to be about 5am till until 1pm. If you’re arriving for a sailing during that period of time, we ask people not to arrive more than two hours before their sailing so that we can keep everybody flowing through.”Port of Dover Travel said this morning that French border officers were “doing their best” following the introduction of the new EU digital automated border system.The port said: "We recognise that the border process is slower with the current EES system, and this May Half Term is the first peak period since its introduction.Article continues below"French border teams are doing their best within the parameters given and are working with the highest available resources. We are continuing to work hard with them and our other partners to reduce wait times and get you on your way as quickly as possible."It is extremely important to stick to main routes on your journey to the Port, as not doing so causes extra delays and access issues for our local community."This is a Breaking News story. You’ll be more likely to see our stories when any big news breaks in future by simply by clicking this link . You can also join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News , TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads - or visit The Mirror homepage .Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌EuropeBreaking NewsEuropean UnionHolidaysWeather