$4.5bn Great Western Hwy Upgrade NSW reaches new major milestones

The overall Great Western Highway Upgrade between Katoomba and Lithgow in New South Wales has reached new major milestones, progressing this $4.5 billion development even closer towards beginning construction. 

The New South Wales Government has announced that the multi-billion-dollar project is set to support an additional 1,400 jobs, which takes the total number of jobs to be supported during the construction phase to 3,900. 

“We have a new jobs figure for this mammoth project – 3,900 jobs at the peak of construction, which will bolster the building industry here locally for the next decade. 

“The history-making Great Western Highway upgrade between Katoomba and Lithgow, featuring the country’s longest ever road tunnel, offers a unique opportunity to develop local skills that will deliver economic benefits for many years to come. 

“It means thousands of workers will be able to drive this highway once complete, knowing they’ve helped deliver one of the most important road upgrades in our State’s history to ensure safer, faster trips between the Central West and East Coast,” NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said. 

The Great Western Highway Upgrade is part of the State Government’s record $110.4 billion infrastructure pipeline that will not only build projects, but also help improve the daily lives of families as well as create thousands of jobs. 

According to Minister for Regional Roads and Transport Sam Farraway, the New South Wales Government is focused on creating local employment pathways and upskilling local workforces. 

“We are collaborating with industry and training providers to train up local people, to grow the local construction workforce and to leave a skills legacy that will endure far beyond the life of the upgrade program,” Minister Farraway said. 

In addition to the announcement of additional jobs, the State Government has also confirmed the 11-kilometre toll-free tunnel that runs from Blackheath to Little Hartley as the preferred option for this section of the Great Western Highway Upgrade. 

This option will feature: 

• Twin tunnels – one eastbound and one westbound – with a length of 11 kilometres 
• Two lanes of traffic flow in each tunnel to separate traffic and increase safety 
• Road shoulders to allow vehicles to stop safely without interrupting traffic flow 
• A possible tunnel depth of up to 200 metres below ground at the deepest point to the south of Mount Victoria 
• Tunnel operation facilities including ventilation systems, drainage management, signage, lighting and emergency evacuation systems 

“The tunnel will reduce congestion and improve safety for local residents, tourists and freight operators. 

“This is a complex, ambitious plan but we’re on track for shovels to hit the ground on the east and west stages of the upgrade early next year because we’re getting on with the job of building a safer, stronger road network across all parts of the state,” the Deputy Premier said. 

Consultation phase will continue with Blue Mountains and Central West communities as well as the Wiradjuri, Dharug and Gundungurra communities. Over the coming weeks, a series of face-to-face and online information sessions are going to be held. For more information on the consultations, you can visit the web portal here. 

Formal consultation for this project is anticipated to begin later this year once the Environmental Impact Assessment for the twin tunnels is released for exhibition. 

Artist impression of the road tunnel (source: Liberal New South Wales)

Lastly, the community is also being encouraged to have their say on a concept plan and Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the Great Western Highway Upgrade between Katoomba and Blackheath. 

“I urge community members to have their say on these plans which will see thousands of road users benefit daily from the planned improvements,” Minister Farraway said. 

The Katoomba to Blackheath project is split into two sections, namely: 

• Katoomba to Medlow Bath: 
  • Widening about 3.5 kilometres of highway to provide two lanes in each direction between Rowan Lane in Katoomba and Bellevue Crescent in Medlow Bath 
  • Connections to the Medlow Bath upgrade section 
  • New concrete twin bridges over the valley from Pulpit Hill near Explorers Road about 400 metres long 
  • Upgrading intersections at Nellies Glen Road, Explorers Road and Foy Avenue 
  • Improving visitor parking and expansion of the Pulpit Hill heritage interpretation area 
  • A new eastbound truck stopping area near Explorers Road 
  • Upgrading the Great Blue Mountains Trail to improve active transport connections between Katoomba and Medlow Bath 
  • New bus stops at Nellies Glen Road (westbound), Explorers Road (eastbound) and Foy Avenue 
• Medlow Bath to Blackheath: 
  • Widening about 1.8 kilometres of highway to provide two lanes in each direction between Station Street in Medlow Bath and Tennyson Road in Blackheath 
  • Extending a new link with the Great Blue Mountains Trail along the National Park and Great Western Highway between Medlow Bath and Blackheath 
  • A new westbound truck stopping area about one kilometre west of Medlow Bath 

“The Great Western Highway upgrade will improve safety for the thousands of people living in and travelling through the Blue Mountains on the highway every day. 

“This is a heavy traffic route to the Blue Mountains villages of Medlow Bath, Blackheath and Mount Victoria, and then onto the Central West, so it’s important we take on community feedback to ensure we deliver an upgrade locals want and need,” Minister Toole said. 

Face-to-face and online information sessions will also be held for this Great Western Highway Upgrade project. You can find more information on the information sessions here. 

Sources: NSW Government – Media Releases (1, 2, 3); Transport for NSW (1, 2, 3)