A $95 million investment has been provided towards upgrading key routes in New South Wales’ Central West. Works under this investment will begin with bypassing Blackheath and Mount Victoria as well as duplicating the Great Western Highway and upgrade works to the Bells Line of Road corridor.
According to Minister for Roads, maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey, plans to duplicate 30 kilometres of the Great Western Highway - between Katoomba and Forty Bends - are already underway. This project is aimed at providing an efficient and safe link between the Central West and the Sydney road network.
“This is great news for the people of the Blue Mountains and Central West. We are planning a long awaited bypassing of Blackheath and Mount Victoria which will make our roads safer while slashing travel times,” Mrs Pavey said.
A multi-agency taskforce is going to be established in Bathurst to deliver the transport masterplan.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said: “This region will be the first to take part in a community based integrated freight and transport plan which will improve connectivity with the Central West.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless said that works are ready to begin on a number of of upgrades along the Bells Line of Road corridor, including an upgrade to Chifley Road at Scenic Hill and Clarence.
“We have already invested $48 million on the Bells Line of Road corridor improvement program which included installing overtaking lanes, stabilising slopes and widening existing lanes to improve safety and travel times for road users,” Mr Colless said.
With the multi-million dollar investment, a 3.5-kilometre section of the Great Western Highway - between Kelso and Raglan - will also be upgraded immediately with the duplication of the stretch of road to Bathurst airport.
“This upgrade will ease traffic congestion during major events and holiday season,” Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said.
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Source: Transport for NSW