Protesters 'removed' after blocking West Gate Bridge for hours
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All lanes on Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge have reopened after police removed three climate protesters from a truck this morning.
Extinction Rebellion members gathered on the bridge about 7.50am, blocking multiple city-bound lanes with a large truck, that had a banner draped over the top saying “Declare a climate emergency” and “Climate breakdown has begun”.
The demonstration caused traffic chaos during the peak-hour commute.
Three protesters are currently being removed.
Three citybound lanes are blocked.
Victoria Police were called to the scene about 8am, before they began removing the protesters.
The Department of Transport has confirmed all lanes have reopened, however, warned of heavy congestion stretching back to Point Cook Road on the Princes Freeway, and to the Western Freeway on the M80 Ring Road.
Delays of up to 60 minutes are still expected.
Traffic is backed up on the West Gate Bridge.
Climate protesters gathered on the West Gate Bridge this morning.
An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson said the protest was held in the lead-up to three days of disruptive action from March 13 called Rebel for Life.
The action was also planned to coincide with the second day of the ASEAN Summit in Melbourne.
One of the protesters, 51-year-old concrete truck driver Brad Homewood said the government needed to declare a climate emergency and urged the leaders of all governments to do the same.
“The ASEAN climate talks should be seriously addressing the need for urgent, global action to halt the warming and begin the enormous task of climate repair before it’s too late,” he said in a statement.
It’s not the first time Extinction Rebellion members have caused traffic chaos across city, with the group blocking parts of Montague Street last year.