Melba Highway traffic: Traffic banked up for kilometres due to pothole repairs

Frustrated drivers have been left stuck for hours in a 10km traffic nightmare after a lane was closed on a major road for pothole repairs.

Frustrated drivers have hit out after being stuck for hours in a 10km traffic nightmare due to pothole repair works.

And the pain is still not over for drivers using the Melba Highway, with works continuing to fix a section of the road near Gordon’s Bridge, close to Castella.

One lane has been closed and traffic lights installed at the site, causing traffic chaos over the Grand Final long weekend and end to the school holidays, with cars banked back for kilometres.

Stephanie Montgomery shared a video online of the banked up traffic on Melba Highway last Friday, about 2.5 to 3km away from the traffic lights, describing it as “a joke”.

“Trying to leave Banksia Court on the Melba Highway Castella and there’s traffic banked up as far as we can see,” she said.

“How anyone thinks putting set of traffic lights on a main arterial highway is a solution is beyond me.

“They have been there for about four weeks already with no work commencing.

“And this is just one of the treacherous potholes that makes up the patchwork quilt that we call the Melba Highway.

“There have been so many vehicles damaged including one of our trucks that has bent axle costing close to $2000 to repair.”

Melba Highway was recently ranked as one of the state’s worst roads.

Eildon state Liberal MP Cindy McLeish said on Sunday the traffic queue on the Melba Highway near Gordons Bridge was over 10km long and the wait time stretched for hours for drivers trying to get home after the school holidays.

Melba Highway traffic on September 29.

The pothole causing traffic chaos. Picture: Glenburn Community Group Facebook page

“For many this would have been their first taste of the problem but for locals these delays

are nothing new. It is not unusual at the busiest times to spend up to an hour waiting at the

traffic lights, especially on weekends, to get past this small stretch of road that is

desperately awaiting repairs,” Ms McLeish said.

She said a large pothole opened up on the section of road at the end of August, creating havoc for drivers using one of the busiest roads in the area and a major arterial route.

Potholes have been causing havoc on the roads, with at least 25 cars suffering flat tyres after hitting a huge pothole in Seaford on Tuesday night, with drivers describing the scene as “very scary”.

A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said crews would be carrying out vital repairs near Gordon’s Bridge on the Melba Highway over the coming week, weather permitting.

“Until these works are complete, a lane closure will remain in place at the site as a safety measure for all road users,” the spokesperson said.