Highway to stay closed

THE Hamilton Highway remains closed east of Inverleigh to most traffic following a train derailment last Monday.

A statement released by the Department of Transport said a 50-kilometre detour is in place between Inverleigh and Fyansford, with only emergency services, busses and locals with no alternative allowed along the stretch of road.

The department also said from 7am to 7pm on Monday no traffic would be allowed along the Hamilton Highway.

“Motorists are asked to allow up to 20 minutes extra for the… detour using Merrawarp Road, Barrabool Road, Devon Road, the Princes Highway and Inverleigh-Winchelsea Road,” the statement said.

“The Hamilton Highway remains closed between Inverleigh-Winchelsea Road, Inverleigh and Merrawarp Road, Fyansford as the Australian Rail Track Corporation conduct rail repairs.

“The Hamilton Highway is expected to re-open when works are completed mid-next week, weather-permitting.

“We encourage motorists to check the VicTraffic website for road closure before commencing their journey, as several nearby roads are impacted by flooding.

“The Department of Transport and ARTC thank motorists for their patience as crews work around the clock to reconnect the east-west rail freight corridor.”

Traffic access along the Hamilton Highway was impacted when a 1.7-kilometre-long freight train with 55 carriages derailed at about 5.30am on Monday.

Sixteen of the carriages came off the tracks and dozens of shipping containers spilled onto both sides of the railway line and some into a nearby paddock.

An investigation into the crash is with the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.