Latest Napier St bridge accident sparks more safety fears

MOTORISTS risk being “decapitated” by falling containers at the notorious Napier St bridge after new protection beams made the bridge more dangerous, advocates say.

Last week’s accident where a shipping container hit a car after a truck crashed into the Napier St bridge. Picture: Martin Wurt

MOTORISTS risk being “decapitated” by falling containers at the notorious Napier St bridge after new protection beams made the bridge more dangerous, advocates say.

Three people escaped with minor injuries after a truck hit the newly installed protection beams on March 6, which caused a shipping container to slide off the vehicle and hit a car travelling behind it. The incident comes just two weeks after the beams were installed as a way to stop trucks from striking the actual bridge.

The beams are designed to push containers backwards rather than have them toppling sidewards onto pedestrians.

But Maribyrnong Truck Action Group secretary Martin Wurt said the new beams had not made the underpass any safer for the community.

“If a container flies off the back of a truck, it could go through a windscreen and someone could easily be decapitated,” Mr Wurt said.

He said the State Government promised the upgrade would make the road safer.

“Instead, these realigned beams have turned the containers into potential missiles,” Mr Wurt said.

Police said the driver of the truck had been fined $777 for hitting the beams.

A new safety barrier didn’t stop this accident last week. Picture: Martin Wurt

Metro Trains spokesman Marcus Williams said the crash was the first incident reported this year. More than 60 trucks have hit the bridge since 2010.

Mr Williams said each time the protection beams were hit, structural inspectors had to assess whether the bridge was damaged or just the barriers.

VicRoads Metro North West operations director Brian Westley said drivers needed to be aware of height restrictions and know the height of their vehicle.

There are five height detection devices and 28 bridge height warning advisory signs on the approaches to the Napier Street Bridge.

Footscray MP Marsha Thomson did not respond to questions about whether the new measures were up to scratch.