Frustrated motorists spend the equivalent of more than three full days a year in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Melbourne's choked roads, research reveals.
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A study by GPS manufacturer TomTom shows that Melbourne is the second most congested Australian city after Sydney.
It confirms what drivers who languish in traffic know all too well.
For every half-hour commute, Melburnians spend an extra 20 minutes in traffic.
Melbourne's traffic is at its worst on Tuesday mornings and during the Thursday and Friday evening peak.
Congestion levels are expected to worsen in Melbourne as the population grows to about 8 million by 2053.
The West Gate Freeway and Bolte Bridge area and the end of the Eastern Freeway inbound approaching Hoddle Street are consistently rated the city's most clogged roads by VicRoads.
Average speeds on these traffic hot spots have dropped to less than 20km/h during the morning peak.
The RACV's Brian Negus said the results highlighted the need for short and long-term solutions to Melbourne's congestion.
These include more extended and 24-hour clearways, frequent reviews of the traffic signalling system, and public transport and road projects including completing the missing link in the Metropolitan Ring Road.
"Melbourne congestion levels are growing and the cost to the community is a real cause for concern," Mr Negus said.
Mr Negus said more work needed to be done to address traffic at weekends, with Saturday becoming a peak traffic day.
A spokeswoman for Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the state government would reduce congestion in Melbourne by removing 50 level crossings, and building the Melbourne Metro Rail Project and the West Gate Distributor.
"The government is aware of the congestion issues that commuters are facing every day and understands their frustrations," she said.
On Tuesday, the government announced that work would immediately begin on removing the nine level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong.
"Level crossings are causing huge congestion problems right across Melbourne, with some boom gates down for up to 80 minutes in the morning peak," she said.
