A broken expansion joint on a major road into Melbourne is being blamed for traffic bedlam on the western fringe of the city this morning.
Motorists travelling citybound on the Princes Freeway at Werribee continue to face delays this morning after the damaged road surface caused a truck rollover and car pile-up.
It’s understood a metal plate covering the expansion joint came loose during the night, before a truck drove over it at 100km/h about 4.20am and flipped onto its side.
That crash then triggered a pile-up of up to 10 cars, causing the closure of multiple lanes of traffic near Duncans Road.
One Melbourne-bound lane has been reopened but two lanes remain closed as crews continue to investigate the incident and work to safely reopen all lanes.
No one has been injured.
Earlier in the day, delays exceeded two hours on the freeway and on surrounding roads through Werribee and Wyndham Vale.
Those delays have eased slightly, with motorists now facing about an hour of extra time on the road.
Motorists travelling between Geelong and Melbourne can save time by detouring via Bacchus Marsh and the Western Freeway.
Travellers can also avoid delays by taking V/Line trains on the Geelong line.
Drivers are being urged to be patient and mindful of local traffic, and obey all local speed limits if travelling through Werribee.
Authorities say all lanes will reopen when investigations and repairs are complete and it is safe to do so.
