Truck crashes into railway bridge on Flinders Street, Melbourne

Dashcam footage has captured the dramatic moment a truck crashed into a rail bridge in Melbourne’s CBD, causing severe delays.

A truck has caused traffic chaos in Melbourne’s CBD after it misjudged the height of a bridge and became wedged beneath it this afternoon.

Vehicles and trams are both affected by the collision that brought down overhead power lines for the tram network. Trains were also suspended for a time and delays are continuing.

The lorry partially overturned at the intersection of Flinders St and Spencer St.

Images from the scene show the large truck after it smashed into the railway bridge that carries thousands of rail commuters between Flinders St and Southern Cross stations, two of Australia’s busiest transport hubs.

The truck almost keeled over. Picture: AAP Image/David Crosling.

Cars, trams and trains were stopped with the truck beneath the bridge. The truck brought down tram power lines with routes still affected. Picture: AAP Image/David Crosling.

It appears that while the cab of the truck was able to fit beneath the bridge, the load the vehicle was carrying was taller and made contact with the bridge deck.

Dashcam footage showed the moment the truck approached the railway bridge and then almost tipped over as its payload smashed into the deck bringing traffic to a halt.

Dashcam stills of the moment before the truck crash in central Melbourne. Picture: Marty Hach/@hytram.

The truck’s load collides at speed with the bridge deck. Picture: Picture: Marty Hach/@hytram.

EXPECT DELAYS

Victoria Police has said to expect delays and for people to follow the direction of police and avoid the area.

Vic Traffic has said Spencer St is closed northbound at the Flinders St junction due to fallen power lines.

Traffic detours are in place at the corner of Spencer and Flinders streets. Westbound traffic, towards the Docklands, is being sent left onto Spencer Street. Northbound, towards South Cross, is turning left onto Flinders Street. Follow @yarratrams for service updates. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/1QWCKBapIm

— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) October 3, 2019

3.55pm update:
- Route 12, 96 & 109 trams are now running in sections with no trams between Stop 1 Southern Cross Station & Stop 124a Casino/MCEC.
- Route 70 & 75 trams continue to run in sections with no trams between Stop 6 Russell St & Stop D6 Flinders St West.

— Yarra Trams (@yarratrams) October 3, 2019

Truck stuck under the rail bridge 😮@Melbourne @AwardsDarwin @DashCamOwnersAu pic.twitter.com/29n8xUum1k

— Brad Cooke (@CookieMuffta) October 3, 2019

Yarra Trams has said several lines have been disrupted due to the fallen overhead cables.

Routes 12, 96 and 109 will now run in sections with no trams between Southern Cross Station and Stop 124 Batman Park. Route 70 and 75 trams run in sections with no trams between Stop 6 Russell St and Stop D6 Flinders St West.

Rail operator Metro Trains said services had been suspended between Southern Cross and Flinders streets while the truck was removed. They are now resuming but some services that would otherwise use the City Loop are terminating and starting from Flinders St.

ANOTHER DAY. ANOTHER TRUCK HITS A BRIDGE.

Oversized tucks crashing into bridges at Melbourne is a recurring problem. One person on Twitter asked today if there was “anything more Melbourne”?

A key issue is the number of bridges with low clearances, the height of which are then misjudged by drivers.

One bridge is particularly prone. The Montague St bridge in South Melbourne, which carries trams to Port Melbourne from the CBD, has a clearance on a mere three meters.

Bollards on Montague Street in the lead up to the low bridge designed to warn drivers to check their height. Since its installation, vehicles have continued to crash into the low bridge. Picture: Hamish Blair

It happens almost monthly. Maybe there needs to be a specific question on truck driver's licence tests in Melbourne.

— subject to misinterpretation (@RanTLaw) October 3, 2019

Is there anything that is more Melbourne than an oversized truck crashing into a bridge?

— Loz! (@lozturner1) October 3, 2019

The Montague Street bridge has been hit again in South Melbourne. Police are directing traffic both directions around the truck stuck under the rail overpass. Allow extra time. Consider alternatives. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/AvOArGhiNG

— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) September 9, 2019

VicRoads has introduced numerous measures to warn drivers of how low it is. These include prominent signage, red and white stripes on the bridge and, in 2016, bollards that hangs over the road before the bridge. If drivers hit these bollards it’s a warning that they won’t fit beneath the upcoming bridge.

Countless vehicles have crashed into a bridge including a bus that was travelling so fast the roof was peeled back. The bridge was hit most recently just last month. It even has its own Twitter page detailing all the prangs beneath its arches.