Notorious Napier St bridge in Footscray still awaiting fix as $600,000 for upgrade sits unused

CASH set aside almost 18 months ago to fix Melbourne’s most crashed-into bridge has sat unused while bureaucrats conduct a review.

This truck struck the notorious Napier St bridge in Footscray this month. Picture: David Smith

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SAFETY upgrades at a notorious Footscray rail bridge never went ahead despite being promised by the State Government more than a year ago.

Leader can reveal a planned $600,000 safety upgrade to realign the Napier St rail bridge announced in June last year never went ahead.

The 4m-high bridge suffers more hits from heavy vehicles than any other in Melbourne, with more than 50 since 2010.

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It was recently struck twice in just seven days by container trucks, on November 7 and on November 1.

Two trucks have struck the bridge already this month. Picture: David Smith

Traffic is brought to a standstill and train services are canelled every time a truck hits the bridge. Picture: David Smith

The upgrade was planned to take place just months after the announcement but was never started.

Footscray state Labor MP Marsha Thomson said the realignment works did not go ahead after the accident at the Montague St bridge in February.

The crash ripped the roof off the bus and left several passengers with injuries.

Instead Ms Thomson said the works were under review to see if an “intelligent transport system” such as gantries needed to be installed to warn drivers of the low height in addition to the realignment.

The Maribyrnong Truck Action Group has campaigned for a solution for years.

This crash happened in 2012 - one of 50 since 2010.

One of the trucks that hit the brridge this month receives assistance. Picture: David Smith

Group president Samantha McArthur said she was outraged the works never went ahead and disappointed the community was left in the dark.

“What are they waiting for ... are they waiting for someone to die before they do something,” she said.

The campaigner said it was an “astonishing” decision.

Maribyrnong council chief executive Stephen Wall said there had been ongoing discussions with VicRoads over many years and despite some additional measures the problem had not improved.

He said council had suggested several options including height detection cameras, physical warning system, increasing the fine for truck operators who contravene height limits and introducing curfews.

Residents were frustrated at the number of accidents that continued to happen at the bridge.

Reader Marion Peterson said the latest crash was “unbelievable”.

“There are so many warning signs, how can they not be getting the message,” she said.

Robert Maloney said hitting the bridge should be “automatic loss of truck licence” for drivers.

Another reader Deborah H Benz commented the trucks “shouldn’t even (be) driving on our roads” and that there were “so many warning signs”.

VicRoads did not respond to questions before deadline.