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Nightmare Friday traffic across Melbourne after three truck crashes

Thousands of drivers on some of Melbourne’s busiest freeways are enduring a hellish journey home following a series of crashes on Friday.

The chaos began in the morning with a truck crash on the top of the West Gate bridge, with further smashes in the afternoon causing problems on the Tullamarine and Princes Freeways.

The crash was caused by black BMW, leaving a truckie with nowhere to go but into another truck which then struck a safety barrier.

“The structural integrity of the barrier has now been compromised so it’s not safe at the moment,” Vic Roads Dimi Polymenakos said.

The beginning of the crash which brought the West Gate Freeway to a halt. Source: 7News
The beginning of the crash which brought the West Gate Freeway to a halt. Source: 7News

Vic Roads were forced to close three lanes for hours while a team worked to repair the damage.

The closure led to traffic stretching through the domain tunnel to Glen Iris and beyond.

“If it was to be hit again either by a car or truck there is a potential that truck could go over the side and land in the water or on the ground and we don’t want that,” Mr Polymenakos said.

While two lanes re-opened later on Friday afternoon for the evening commute, one remains closed as repair work continues into the night.

Another crash on the Princes Freeway caused further congestion. Source: 7News
Another crash on the Princes Freeway caused further congestion. Source: 7News

As congestion was easing on the West Gate Freeway, another crash occurred inbound on the Princes Freeway at Laverton.

Shortly after 3pm, a truckie lost control and smashed into a car and power poles. The force of the impact threw the driver from the cabin.

Paramedics rushed him to hospital in a critical condition as emergency services closed lanes in both directions to clear the scene.

There was more chaos to come with a third crash on the Tullamarine Freeway when a truck lost its trailer.

Traffic jams stretched back kilometres in conditions described as some of the worst seen in Melbourne. Source: 7News
Traffic jams stretched back kilometres in conditions described as some of the worst seen in Melbourne. Source: 7News

Disgruntled motorists took to social media to document Melbourne’s gridlock arterials with some describing waits of several hours.

“86 mins from Caulfield to Moonee Ponds and went nowhere near the Monash. What a farce,” one motorist quipped on Twitter.

“Another day of traffic mayhem in Melbourne’s West,” another user wrote.

With Friday afternoon already busier than usual, motorists are urged to allow extra time or leave a little later and seek alternative routes.