The latest attempt to stop trucks, vans and buses being wedged under Melbourne’s infamous Montague Street Bridge has been announced.
The Victorian Government says the speed limit on Montague Street will soon be reduced from 60km/h to 40km/h between a 350-metre stretch from Munro Street and Buckhurst Street, to improve safety by reducing the likelihood and severity of crashes.
The reduced speed will provide drivers with more time to consider their vehicle height as they approach the Montague Street bridge, giving them additional time to stop.
The South Melbourne bridge, with its low clearance of just three metres, has been a notorious hazard for more than a century. Despite the installation of 26 warning signs and gantries with hanging paddles, over-height vehicles frequently collide with the bridge, causing significant traffic disruptions and costly damages,
The bridge’s design constraints make structural modifications challenging. Raising the bridge would interfere with the tram network above, while lowering the road is unfeasible due to underground utilities and flood risks
Beyond its practical issues, the bridge has become a cultural icon. It has its own website tracking the days since the last collision and social media accounts that document each incident.
Crews will be on site installing the speed signage in late May, with the new speed limit of 40 km/h to become legally enforceable once signs are installed and uncovered.
Drivers are encouraged to make sure they know the height of their vehicle prior to travelling, obey speed signage and always drive carefully.
It remains to be seen whether lowering the speed limit will reduce the number of collisions with the bridge: people who ignore 26 warning signs might not pay attention to something like a speed limit sign.
