Napier St Bridge, Footscray: Hi-tech automatic detection system to be installed to stop trucks from hitting bridge

AUTOMATIC detections systems which gauge truck heights will be installed at Footscray’s notorious Napier St Bridge in a Victorian first as part of a $1.2 million State Government safety upgrade.

THE State Government will pull out all the hi-tech stops to prevent trucks from crashing into Footscray’s notorious Napier St Bridge.

Despite more than 20 warning signs on the approach to the bridge, trucks and other tall vehicles have continued to hit it since 2005, prompting the Government to announce a $1.2 million safety upgrade.

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Roads and Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan said, in a first for Victoria, automatic detection systems would be installed on the approaches to the bridge to detect over-height vehicles, and traffic signals would be used to stop drivers before they got to the bridge.

“Bridge strikes put people at risk and they can be easily avoided,” Mr Donnellan said.

“It’s the responsibility of all drivers to know the height of their vehicle and choose an appropriate route.”

Electronic variable message signs will direct these vehicles to use an alternative route, with closed-circuit cameras to capture the details of drivers who disobey the advance warnings.

Alarms triggered by over-height vehicles that ignore the warnings will notify authorities immediately.

Footscray state Labor MP Marsha Thomson said there had been 70 bridge strikes at Napier St since 2005.

“This is unacceptable and these improvements will make the bridge safer for everyone,” Ms Thomson said.

Napier St is used by more than 20,000 vehicles each day.

The new warning system follows a $600,000 realignment of the protection beams on both sides of the bridge to reduce the risk of container loads dislodging if they struck the bridge.

Work will start this month and is expected to be finished by the end of the year.