Perth's Friday evening commute was thrown into chaos as a significant police incident brought traffic to a standstill in West Perth.
Incident Details and Road Closures
The disruption began shortly before 5:30 PM on Friday, 9 January 2026. Authorities responded to an incident on Loftus Street eastbound at the Mitchell Freeway. Emergency services were forced to close the left lanes of the roadway to deal with the unfolding situation.
Warnings for Motorists
Main Roads WA quickly issued an alert to drivers, confirming the incident and the subsequent lane closures. The agency urged all motorists in the area to proceed with extreme caution due to the heavy congestion building on approach routes.
Flow-On Effects and Commuter Impact
The closure created a major bottleneck during peak hour, with traffic banked up for considerable distances. The incident caused significant delays for countless commuters trying to make their way out of the city or through West Perth. The exact nature of the police operation was not immediately disclosed by authorities.
As emergency crews worked at the scene, traffic management systems were activated. Drivers were advised to seek alternative routes where possible and to allow for substantial additional travel time. The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a localised event can disrupt the broader road network in a major city like Perth.
