V/LINE says works along the Bendigo-Echuca line were responsible for long delays at a Goornong level crossing on Wednesday.
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Despite there being no train in sight, frustrated motorists faced long waits behind the boom gates on Old Murray Road, just off the Midland Highway.
One puzzled local woman threw her arms in the air in disbelief after exiting her car, having spent more than 10 minutes waiting for the gates to open, about 12.50pm.
Out of luck, she retreated to her car and headed to the crossing at Goornong-May Reef Road, about three kilometres down the line.
Other motorists were more patient - or perhaps less busy - waiting nearly 30 minutes for the bells to stop booming.
Wes White, publican of the Drover's Arms Hotel located across the highway from the crossing, timed the delay at more than an hour.
"There was a line of three cars banked up one stage," he said.
Mr White said delays at the crossing had been common in recent days.
V/Line has apologised for the delays and said they were due to works being undertaken on the $10 million Bendigo-Echuca track upgrade.
"Crews have been replacing sleepers, upgrading drainage and removing mud spots near the Goornong level crossing," a spokesperson said.
"Machines used as part of these works need to travel along the tracks and this has triggered the boom gates to drop, as if a train was moving through.
"This is a safety precaution and once the works passed this part of track, the boom gates would have lifted.
"The level crossing is working as it is designed to and all V/Line crossings across the state operate in this way."
Track works started earlier this month and include sleeper replacements, level crossing renewals, ballast renewal and drainage improvements.
They are scheduled for completion on August 20.