Flights axed, traffic delayed as fog blankets Melbourne
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Dozens of flights have been cancelled at Melbourne Airport on Tuesday due to weather conditions, while commuters are being warned of traffic delays as fog blankets parts of the state.
Several flights were delayed for up to an hour, mostly due to cancellations on Monday, with Melbourne Airport reporting the cancellations of eight inbound flights and 20 departures before 7am.
Fog has settled across Melbourne, including the inner north-west suburb of Kensington.Credit: Eliza Sum
More than 100 domestic flights in and out of the airport were cancelled on Monday due to the weather, which is expected to continue affecting domestic and some international travellers throughout the day.
During what is one of the airport’s busiest periods, more than 10,000 passengers are expected through the airport each day as the Christmas holidays get underway.
The fog is expected to clear by midday with a top of 32 degrees forecast for the city. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of a possible thunderstorm in the afternoon or early evening.
Melbourne Airport has advised passengers travelling on Tuesday to check with their airline for any changes to flight departure times.
“Fog and low cloud may reduce the number of aircraft able to land at Melbourne Airport this morning, which could result in delays,” a spokesperson said.
In Melbourne’s south-east, all outbound lanes of the Princes Highway in Oakleigh East have been closed between Huntingdale Road and Clayton Road due to a fatal collision early on Tuesday.
A car travelling along the Princes Highway, near Dublin Street, veered off the road and crashed into a tree. Police say the driver died at the scene.
Delays are building on the Princes Highway in both directions, with one inbound lane also closed for the safety of crews working at the incident. The transport department has advised motorists to allow extra time for the detours via Ferntree Gully Road or North Road.
Local bus services will detour around the road closure and will miss stops in the area.
“This closure is under the control of Victoria Police and the road will only re-open when investigations are complete and it’s safe to do so,” a spokesperson said.
“Our signals team is monitoring conditions in the area and will adjust traffic lights to minimise congestion along detour routes.”
Motorists have also been warned of delays as fog affects visibility along stretches of the Western Freeway between Melton and Ballarat. The speed has been reduced to 60 km/h along the highway as repairs continue following a multi-car crash involving 14 vehicles at Myrniong on Monday.
The freeway re-opened overnight after the incident near Bacchus Marsh closed the road in both directions. Police say the crash occurred when heavy fog set in just before 4pm on Monday, while five other separate collisions took place in the surrounding area.
Two men are in critical condition after the separate crashes, which involved about 30 vehicles, caused traffic chaos in the north-west of Melbourne, with 20 patients taken to hospital on Monday.
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