Extinction Rebellion promises more chaos after West Gate Bridge blocked for hours

Extinction Rebellion is vowing to cause more chaos in Melbourne after blocking traffic on the West Gate bridge during the morning commute.

Three activists, including a serial protestor jailed over a similar stunt before her conviction was overturned, were charged after gathering on the bridge about 7.45am, blocking multiple city-bound lanes with a large truck.

The truck reportedly had a banner draped over the top saying "declare a climate emergency" and "climate breakdown has begun."

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A rental truck was used as the makeshift roadblock, blocking in the middle of peak-hour.

Police attempted to negotiate with the group, but were forced to use a cherry picker to remove them just after 9.45am.

It took nearly two hours for the specialist police to pick off the activists one by one, cuffing and marching them into a brawler van.

Some motorists were stuck in the traffic jam for more than two hours.

A 33-year-old NSW woman, a 68-year-old Burnside Heights man and a 51-year-old Williamstown man have been charged with public nuisance, hindering police, obstructing police and obstruction of a roadway.

All three appeared in court today.

One of the charged is believed to be serial protester Violet Coco, who spent time in a New South Wales jail for blockading the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a similar stunt a few years ago before her conviction was overturned.

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Extinction Rebellion spokesperson Jane Morten said the protest was held in the lead-up to three days of disruptive action from March 13 called Rebel for Life.

"We really do apologise to the people who have been delayed, it's because we've literally tried everything else," she told 9News.

"We are in a climate and ecological emergency and our actions today and every day impact the habitability of our planet for ourselves and generations to come."

The action was also planned to coincide with the second day of the ASEAN Summit in Melbourne.

One of the protesters, 51-year-old concrete truck driver Brad Homewood said the government needed to declare a climate emergency and urged the leaders of all governments to do the same.

"The ASEAN climate talks should be seriously addressing the need for urgent, global action to halt the warming and begin the enormous task of climate repair before it's too late," he said in a statement.

It's not the first time Extinction Rebellion members have caused traffic chaos across city, with the group blocking parts of Montague Street last year.