Trucks getting stuck under the Montague Street bridge is a running Melbourne joke, but there is another bridge that gets hit far more often, but where the risk to the public is far worse – the Napier Street bridge in Footscray.
The incident
On Sunday 3 March a so-called ‘professional’ driver of a container truck loaded with a single ‘high cube’ 40 foot ISO shipping container bound for the Port of Melbourne tried to make it under the 4.0 metre clearance Napier Street bridge, but ignored the warning signs – striking the bridge and dislodging the container from the truck.
By the time I came past trains were already running again following an inspection of the bridge, and Victoria Police were in attendance – not hard, given their police station is next door!
The damage
The 40 foot container had been dislodged from the trailer, and hanging at a perilous angle, almost ready to fall onto the footpath.
The bridge protection beam taking the hit rather than the bridge.
The impact speed must have been high, as the bridge warning lights had been dislodged.
And the steel container deformed.
An impact mark from the bridge protection beam visible to one side.
Dislodged container twistlocks on the ground below.
A hole in the fresh asphalt where the container fell to the ground.
Recovery time
The truck operator called up mobile crane to assist with the recovery operation.
But it wasn’t needed – a heavy tow truck was used to drag the container away from the truck.
Chains and the rear boom used to lift up the rear of the container.
Which then topped over sideways.
Crushing the fence intended to ‘protect’ pedestrians from road vehicles.
I don’t think that was how they intended the recovery to go!
At least the semi-trailer was now free.
But in need of repair – the rear container twistlocks bent out of position.
Another crack
After a bit of maneuvering, the heavy tow truck was able to pull the 40 foot container back upright.
And then pull it clear of the bridge.
Allowing a waiting sidelifter truck to pull up alongside.
Lift the damaged container onto the sidelift trailer.
And take it away.
Allowing the eastbound lanes to be reopened.
All up the recovery effort took an hour to complete.
So why is the Napier Street bridge worse?
The Montague Street might be notorious for bridge strikes in Melbourne.
But the bulk of impacts in South Melbourne are just weekend warriors on car licences driving rental trucks when moving house – not ‘professional’ drivers with a heavy vehicle licence – and a four tonne steel shipping containers falling off a truck is far more dangerous to other motorists than the body of a pantech truck getting a little beat up.
In addition the statistics don’t lie – the the Napier Street bridge was struck 37 times by heavy vehicles between 2018 and 2022, while the Montague Street bridge was only hit once in 2021.
One possible solution – the Port Rail Shuttle project, paused back in 2015, but ready to start operation ‘soon’.
Footnote
And a bit of a laugh – a petition to “Paint Footscray’s Napier Street Bridge With Scary Shark Teeth“.
So a bridge strike on average every six weeks. Trucks roar through under that bridge at speed, building up momentum for the incline, which makes a bridge strike even more violent. And it’s obvious that the “protective” fence offers zero protection for any pedestrian unlucky enough to be there if a container was to topple sideways.
But given that trucks will be banned on Buckley Street between Whitehall Street and Geelong Road when the West Gate Tunnel opens in a year, there is no chance the government will spend another cent to make this area safer in the meantime.
I used to work in the government building next door in your photos of Napier Street Bridge. It was always interesting when you saw a truck strike but super scary when walking on that footpath.
Port Rail Shuttle is interesting. I worked on the enabling works for the eastern site. But the developer has no appetite to build the yard at all. I worry that it will never get built unless they sell or the government builds it.
Hi Anthony, which eastern site are you referring to? As far as I’m aware loading and unloading for the Port Rail Shuttle will be based on Port of Melbourne land and port management is very keen to get the project fully operational.
Port Rail Shuttle in the east leads into Salta Land. I believe Salta is responsible for getting the yard built and operational
I also once worked in the area, that bridge is notorious. IMHO the truck operator should pay the full cost of repairs and safety improvements, as it is their inability to avoid solid objects which puts the public at risk.
Sounds like the mobile crane WAS “needed”.
Lol – to be more accurate then, it didn’t get used.
Marcus, I’ve always wanted to know what the underneath of a shipping container looked like!!! Also there were two so-called professionals there; the truck driver and the towtruck operator.
And the rectangle cutout bit on the bottom of the container is called a ‘gooseneck tunnel’ – it provides extra clearance for a raised ‘gooseneck’ end of a truck trailer it fit beneath.
Just wanted to say I appreciate the Wikipedia link for twistlocks.
And now you know how containers get held down.
I was heading back to Watergardens after a seminar in the city earlier this year, and there were buses replacing trains on the Sunbury line due to works. Unfortunately for me, there was traffic heading back to Watergardens due an incident that was similar to the one you described. I was completely unaware that the Napier Street Bridge gets hit more often than Montague Street, and when it happens, its more dangerous due to the curb as well as the close proximity to the public.
Hopefully, the Port Rail Shuttle gets built, but there will be some lobbyists (mostly the trucking lobby) will try to scuttle the Port Rail Shuttle because it will mean that trucks will be off this particular road.