This week VicRoads began installing large gantries with hanging rubber paddles that will "thump" in warning if a vehicle is about to make a dangerously-optimistic attempt at the underpass.

The deceptively-low light rail bridge in South Melbourne has become famous for its capacity to bamboozle truck drivers into thinking they're in a game of limbo - before all but decapitating them.

It has at least 102 known victims, the latest of which was spotted limping, so to speak, from the scene last week – the tarp ripped from the skeleton of its trailer.

From 6pm on Thursday, the city-bound lane of Montague Street will be closed between Buckhurst and Gladstone streets as work on installing the gantries begins. Montague Street will be closed in both directions from 9pm Thursday until 5am on Friday.

The new paddles will hang down to about three metres (the height of the bridge) and VicRoads is hopeful that the drivers who hit them choose to turn around and take a detour rather than plough ahead into disaster.

While the bridge mostly bruises egos, rather than people, a crash involving a tour bus in February showed its deadly potential.

The injured tour bus driver at the scene. Photo: Jason South

More then a dozen passengers and driver suffered cuts and bruises, after the top of the bus was opened up like a sardine can, just above the head of passengers.

"Bridge strikes are serious as they pose a safety risk to the community and significantly disrupt the road network and public transport services," a VicRoads' acting regional director David Teague said.

Whatever happens with the new paddles, the legend of the Montague Street bridge will live on.

The bridge has taken on a life of its own – and a rather indigent personality - through a Twitter account set up on its behalf, as well as a website counting the days since the last hit (nine days).

Drivers wanting to avoid the road closures (or the infamous bridge in the future) can detour via City Road, Ingles Street and Normanby Road.