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Melbourne's Truck-Smashing Bridge Christened 'The Monty Limbo'

Melbourne's Truck-Smashing Bridge Christened 'The Monty Limbo'
Jason South / Fairfax Media

It would be funny if it wasn't so dangerous.

After a bus slammed into a low-clearance bridge in Melbourne in February, a small but loyal following has begun documenting at least five vehicles that have hit it since.

Yes, five.

In 40 days.

The Montague St light rail bridge, with a clearance of just three metres, has since been dubbed 'the Monty Limbo', complete with its own Twitter and Instagram accounts with images of trucks stuck underneath dating back to the early 2000s.

Thrifty Car Rental has a store near the bridge and a spokesman told The Huffington Post Australia that anyone who rented a truck or bus was warned.

"The bridge is within eyesight of our Thrifty office so our staff are well aware of the issue, apparently someone hit it again last night," the spokesman said.

"As part of our standard procedure we always advice customers about overhead restrictions and at this particular office, there’s also a sign just as people are as driving out just to push it further."

Here's one that almost made it #themontylimbo #melbourne #crash #truck #tnt #limbo #MontagueSt #bridge

A photo posted by Montague St Bridge (@themontylimbo) on

There have been bus or truck crashes at the bridge on February 21, 23, 29, March 4 and 11 and VicRoads Director Operations Metro North West Brian Westley said changes were imminent.

"VicRoads has taken immediate measures to prevent future bridge strikes at Montague Street and we're working on further improvements to ensure the safety of road users and the broader community," Westley said.

"VicRoads has commenced onsite works to construct new height detection gantries on the approaches on Montague Street to the bridge to alert drivers of over height vehicles.

"Additional electronic warning devices are also being installed to warn drivers of over height vehicles and provide them with an opportunity to detour.

"Working closely with local businesses, we have installed variable electronic message signs around the bridge to remind drivers to check the height of their vehicles and have started preparing the proposed site of the new gantries. Following design works and installation, it is expected the new gantries and warning lights will be in operation by late May.

"Bridge strikes are serious as they pose a safety risk to the community and cause significant disruption to the road and public transport network.

"It is essential all drivers take personal responsibility to be aware of their vehicle height and plan their journey accordingly."

Meanwhile, the creator of The Monty Limbo's Twitter and Instagram accounts, who goes by Fer, told HuffPost Australia monty watchers would keep recording incidents.

"I'd like to think that it provides awareness through comedy," Fer told HuffPost Australia via email.

"It's funny how after all this time, and a number of trucks hitting the bridge, firm measures haven't been put in place to prevent it. Measures may have been updated but clearly it's not working.

"You may as well hire someone to stand near the bridge with a megaphone yelling at oversized truck drivers to stop!

"Hats off to the engineers that designed The Monty Limbo, they've done a great job at keeping it structurally sound."

Victoria isn't the only state having trouble with bridges.

Shortly before this story was published, this happened in NSW:

This driver should have wheelie taken notice of the sign.

Posted by NSW Police Force on Tuesday, 29 March 2016
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