UPDATE: Two trucks have struck the railway bridge over Napier Street, Footscray, in the past week, causing traffic chaos and disrupting train services.
A truck crashed into the bridge on Tuesday morning, closing off all lanes westbound at Hyde Street.
The roof of the truck peeled off during the crash, leaving it wedged under the bridge.
The crash follows a similar incident at the bridge last Friday, and previous accidents at the site, including one in May.
On Friday, a truck lost its container after crashing into the bridge, causing major delays on the Craigieburn, Frankston, Sandringham, Sunbury, Upfield, Werribee and Williamstown railway lines.
Maribyrnong mayor Nam Quach said the bridge had become a major danger zone for residents and drivers.
“The bridge is a ticking time bomb, an accident waiting to happen,” he said.
“We’ve been contacting VicRoads recently to get a better understanding of the issue, and the previous mayor wrote to the Minister of Transport asking him to come up with something to resolve the issue.
“Temporary measures can be made, such as more warning signs before the bridge, followed by some serious infrastructure to resolve the issue.”
Cr Quach said the Maribyrnong council would work with VicRoads to come up with a solution.
President of the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group, Sam McArthur, urged that changes be made to solve the problem.
“When incidents like this happen, it demonstrates how these streets aren’t viable as major truck routes,” she said.
The action group has proposed new on/off ramps that would create a direct route for trucks to the Port of Melbourne from the West Gate freeway, beginning near Williamstown Road and running through Yarraville’s industrial areas, to Footscray Road and Swanson Dock.
It’s estimated the bypass ramps would take 5000 trucks a day off the West Gate Bridge and remove up to one-million trucks a year from residential streets in the inner west.
“We want the government of the day to solve the problem,” Ms McArthur said.
“You’ve got all the major parties saying it is a problem; we’re just proposing that it be fixed now to avoid any more collisions.”
“Temporary measures can be made, such as more warning signs before the bridge, followed by some serious infrastructure to resolve the issue.”There have been 29 incidents at the Napier Street bridge in the past four years.
Picture gallery: Truck into Napier Street bridge, November 14, 2014
Picture gallery: Truck into Napier Street bridge, May 22, 2014
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