Cameras capture trucks’ moment of impact at rail bridge black spots

New cameras have captured the moment overheight trucks slam into Melbourne rail bridge black spots, causing significant delays.

New CCTV cameras installed at three rail bridge black spots in Melbourne have shown the moment of impact as overheight trucks slam into the structures.

The city’s 178 rail bridges are struck on average about once a week.

Cameras and sensors were installed at three hotspot locations Racecourse Rd near Newmarket station, Huntingdale Rd, Jordanville, and Warrigal Rd, Holmesglen

One strike shows how the top of the trailer was sliced off, while in another incident the roof of the canopy was pushed off, showering debris onto the road, putting following traffic in danger.

The high vehicles or loads hit heavy steel gantries that usually protect the railway lines from damage.

The bridge at Huntingdale Rd, Jordanville has been hit several times by overheight trucks.

But any impact usually means chaos for traffic and rail passengers.

Trains have to slow or stop, or the line may have to be suspended after a strike until an inspection can deem it safe again.

It also causes disruption to road traffic and, in the case on Racecourse Rd, trams can also be halted if overhead lines get pulled down.

Metro Trains’ General Manager of Infrastructure Jasper Milligan said bridge strikes were “hugely disruptive’’ for passengers.

“We often need to stop trains while we assess if there’s any damage to the bridge,” he said.

Now CCTV and sensors can help with the details of an incident, enabling a quicker response to assess any damage.

The cameras, installed last May, have recorded 16 strikers including when a B-double slammed into the Warrigal Rd rail bridge in Holmesglen, sending shrapnel into the air.

The moment an overheight truck hits the Warrigal Rd rail bridge.

An overheight trucks crashes into the rail bridge at Warrigal Rd.

The bridge has a 4m clearance, while Racecourse Rd is 3.7m and Huntingdale Road in Jordanville is 3.9m.

More locations are being considered for the security set-up.

Before, any bridge strike report depended on the vehicle driver or a member of the public. But now, an alert is sent to Metro’s Security Operations Centre.

The National Heavy Vehicle Register and VicRoads produced a map that showed the minimum height clearance under overhead structures on arterial roads.

The persistent problem of bridge strikes has been blamed on poorly trained drivers.

The bridge near Newmarket station was hit 21 times during 2021 and 2022.

Other high-impact locations include the Montague St bridge in Southbank and Napier St, Footscray.