West Gate Bridge delays blow out by three hours

The Treasurer has apologised to motorists caught in up to three-hour delays and suggested people avoid the West Gate Bridge at all costs.

Motorists are experiencing three-hour delays on the Westgate Freeway. Picture: Mark Stewart

Treasurer Tim Pallas says motorists should avoid using the West Gate Bridge at all costs until January 4.

“We are seeing quite considerable delays and I do want to apologise to the travelling public,” he said.

“We don’t do this with any great relish but we do it with a sense of necessity.

“We want to get in and get (those works) done and our expectation is that we will complete it by the fourth of January.”

Mr Pallas has confirmed that Google Maps is now directing people away from the West Gate bridge following a bungle that significantly underestimated delay times.

Motorists are experiencing three hour delays on the Westgate Freeway as four lanes are closed on the Westgate Bridge. Picture: Mark Stewart

“One piece of good news I can give you is a lot of people have been complaining that Google Maps have been directing them on to what is a seriously congested road as a consequence of all those lanes being reduced down to one,” he said.

“We have been advised that Google Maps have now been able to address that problem and redirect people away from that location.”

Melburnians using the West Gate Bridge were on Wednesday confronted with disruptions nearly double what was first predicted, with delays blowing out by three hours.

Authorities on Wednesday were forced to concede they had underestimated the impact of lane closures on the key corridor which had become twice as bad as the 90 minutes they had anticipated.

Adding to the problem was Google Maps, which continued to tell motorists delays were just 30 minutes when they were actually two to three hours.

Motorists travelling during the worst of the gridlock said it took them about an hour to travel 2km.

VicTraffic was warning of outbound delays of more than three hours.

Traffic chaos has erupted this week on the West Gate Bridge, the key connector between two sides of the city, as four outbound lanes were closed from 9pm on Boxing Day.

The disruptions, which end at 6am on January 4, mean just one lane headed away from the city is open to traffic.

Drivers had been warned ahead of 90-minute delays during the roadworks but the snarls have been even worse than publicly anticipated.

Since Tuesday, multiple cars have run out of petrol in the traffic and cars have been banked as far as 6km back to the Domain Tunnel.

There have also been spillover effects for surrounding suburbs and key corridors such as the Monash Freeway.

Those headed west and to the airport have been urged to find detours in the city’s north, using corridors such as Bell St, Brunswick Rd or Footscray Rd.

Department of Transport spokesman Chris Miller said digital signs were warning of the delays as far away as Dandenong to tackle the three-hour snarls.

Every sign available was being used to direct people toward detours or warn of the chaos.

“Part of the problem is that it’s quite free flowing until you get towards the Montague St exit,” Mr Miller said.

“Once you get past there, it’s already too late and you’re caught.

“Our advice to motorists is to be aware and detour as early as possible.”

The gridlock is expected to continue until next week. Picture: Mark Stewart

Adding to the problem, Google Maps is not accounting for the shocking disruptions.

The app has been telling people to expect a half-hour journey over the West Gates Bridge when in reality cars are taking at least three hours.

Mr Miller said they had provided extra data and any further support needed to Google to help them provide better real-time information.

Public alerts have gone out urging people to be alert to the error.

“In terms of detours, we’re asking people to follow the yellow signs,” Mr Miller said.

“People should really second guess the Google Maps (advice) that tells them to go across the bridge.

“We’ve done our best to communicate that’s what being said isn’t accurate and is resulting in people getting stuck.”

It’s understood part of the problem is that the closure is not fully recognised in the Google algorithm because one lane of traffic remains open, meaning it is not recognised as a full closure.

Authorities are patrolling through the traffic jams to check in on the welfare of motorists and provide assistance where needed.

Motorists from the east are being urged to exit the Monash well before the Domain Tunnel.

Alternatives include EastLink, Springvale Rd, Blackburn Rd, Warrigal Rd and Punt Rd.

The department has described the Montague St exit as a “last resort”.

Originally published as West Gate Bridge delays blow out by three hours