West Gate Freeway Reopens After Crash, But Melbourne Traffic Chaos Persists
Melbourne’s evening commute has been thrown into turmoil after a serious crash on the West Gate Freeway led to hours of traffic gridlock. The freeway has finally reopened following a police investigation, but the chaos isn’t over just yet.
Earlier today, just after midday, a motorcyclist was seriously injured when a gold Toyota suddenly swerved into his lane on the West Gate Bridge. In an attempt to avoid the car, the rider collided with another motorcyclist, causing both to crash. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and both riders were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. One, a man in his 60s, suffered lower-body injuries and is now in stable condition, while the other, a man in his 40s, sustained minor injuries. Meanwhile, police are still searching for the driver of the Toyota, who left the scene.
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For nearly six hours, three of the five outbound lanes on the West Gate Bridge remained closed, causing massive delays that stretched all the way back to Burnley. It wasn’t until just after 6 PM that the lanes were finally reopened, allowing traffic to slowly start moving again.
But the headaches for Melbourne commuters don’t stop there. On top of the freeway chaos, a major communications outage hit the V/Line network in the afternoon, shutting down train services for over an hour. According to Chris Miller from the Department of Transport, the outage prevented train drivers from communicating via their radio systems, forcing authorities to suspend services as a safety precaution. While trains have since resumed operation, passengers are still being advised to check the V/Line website for updated schedules as delays continue into the evening.
For those still stuck in traffic, authorities are urging drivers to seek alternative routes. Major arterials like the Monash Freeway, Tullamarine Freeway, and M80 Ring Road are also experiencing congestion, so patience is key.
It’s been a rough day on Melbourne’s roads, and while things are beginning to improve, commuters should brace for lingering delays. If you’re heading home, plan ahead, stay updated, and, most importantly, drive safe.
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