Climate-change protesters block major Melbourne bridge, causing traffic delays

Melbourne motorists faced a disrupted commute Friday morning after climate-change protesters blocked the northbound lanes of Punt Road over the Yarra River bridge, a busy link between South Yarra and central Melbourne. The blockade occurred on the bridge between Alexandra Avenue and Olympic Boulevard during the morning peak hour, with footage showing protesters standing in the middle of the road and holding signs as police directed traffic.

A Victoria Police spokesman and a VicTraffic alert described the disruption, noting that northbound traffic on Punt Road, South Yarra, is now sharing the southbound lanes over the Yarra River to pass the protest and urging motorists to follow police directions and allow extra time. Traffic delays were substantial, with officials estimating about 30 minutes of delay for northbound travel and up to 50 minutes for those heading south as surrounding roads also grew congested. Police remained at the scene as authorities worked to manage the flow of vehicles. One commuter vented frustration, saying, "Who are these protesters who cut the traffic on the bridge in Punt Road? This is so annoying!" The incident adds to ongoing attention around climate-change activism in major cities, drawing early note from Kylie Stevens of the Daily Mail, who reported the incident on Friday. More information was expected as authorities monitored the situation.