Dozens of signs, flashing lights and assorted other shiny things have failed to stop another truck driver running a shipping container into Footscray’s Napier Street bridge.
A westbound container truck struck one of the bright yellow protection beams attached to the bridge shortly before 2pm Thursday, blocking traffic.
Police and VicRoads crews remain at the scene.
A VicRoads spokesman said traffic is being encouraged to go down Hyde Street or Moreland Road and Whitehall Street.
The crash follows two similar incidents in April and brings to more than 70 trucks the number of times the four-metre bridge has been struck in the last decade.
It calls into question the effectiveness of a $1.2 million electronic overheight vehicle detection and warning system recently installed on both approaches to the bridge, in an aim to reduce the likelihood of such bridge strikes.
Signals prompt the the drivers to stop and direct them to alternate routes.
There are also a further 28 advance warning signs and five height detection devices around the bridge.
A TRUCK AND CONTAINER AFTER A BRIDGE STRIKE IN APRIL. PHOTO VIA MTAG
Protection beams on the bridge were last realigned at a cost of $600,000 to further improve safety around the bridge.
The penalty for failing to obey a low clearance bridge warning sign is $793 but there is no loss of demerit points.
VicRoads has no plans to lower the road under the bridge and truck drivers appear to have no plans to stop crashing into the bridge.
