A major truck crash has plunged Melbourne’s morning commute into chaos, with all city-bound lanes on the Princes Freeway closed after a massive diesel spill.

The truck is believed to have hit a metal expansion joint that came loose during overnight roadworks, damaging up to 10 vehicles and causing the truck to roll over.

Drivers on the usual one-hour commute from Geelong to Melbourne face a nightmare three-hour trip as police funnel traffic through Werribee and Point Cook’s gridlocked streets.

Aerial footage captured lines of cars gridlocked on the freeway for kilometres while emergency services work to clear the crash site.

‘The road surface has been damaged, and repairs continue,’ a spokesman for Victoria Traffic said.

Commuters vented online about the freeway’s poor condition.

‘Hope VicRoads pay for the damage to the cars and truck considering it was their hole in the road that they failed to fix,’ one wrote.

‘Big hole in the road, not driver’s fault, many cars changing their tyres,’ another said.

Commuters reported a metal expansion joint (above) became exposed before early morning traffic drove over it in the darkness

Roads around Werribee and Point Cook, including Duncans Road and Sneydes Road, are choked with traffic. Authorities are advising commuters to ditch their cars for V/Line trains.

The Princes Freeway, the main highway from Geelong to Melbourne, has left thousands stranded, with many drivers turning back to Geelong.

One lane is expected to open soon, however, it could take until midday before the freeway is completely open.

Victoria Police have advised they are assisting with traffic management.

‘Police are currently assisting with traffic management issues on the Princes Freeway inbound in Werribee following multiple collisions early this morning,’ a spokeswoman said.

‘While the collisions have been cleared, due to the condition of the road, diversions remain in place between Princes Highway, Werribee Road and Duncans Road.

‘It is understood issues with the road contributed to the collisions, which occurred about 4.20am. No one was injured.

‘The diversions remain under the control of Transport Victoria, for anything further in relation to the road, please refer to Transport Victoria.’

A truck rolled in the same stretch of road as the exposed expansion joint (above)

One motorist, Ken, told radio station 3AW that he only managed to cover 2km in 40 minutes before he could get off the freeway.

A metal expansion joint on the freeway was uncovered on Wednesday morning.

Footage from the scene shows that temporary metal plates meant to cover it were missing.

The joints are used to stop damage in the road caused by heat, rain, or heavy traffic.

One lane of the freeway was reopened just before 9am. 

Road works are continuing at the broken joint on Duncans Rd bridge. 

‘Crews have been able to reopen one lane for traffic while we investigate the cause and further work needed to reopen all lanes,’ a spokesman for Transport Victoria advised.

‘All lanes will re-open when investigations and repairs are complete and it is safe to do so.’