Lower speed limit for heavy vehicles on the Darling Causeway
The speed limit for heavy vehicles travelling on the Darling Causeway between Mount Victoria and Bell will be reduced to 70 km/h to deliver safer trips for all road users.
Transport for NSW conducted a speed zone review along the full 9.8-kilometre length of the Darling Causeway following a request from a member of the public who was concerned about the speed heavy vehicles were travelling on the road.
A preliminary review recommended the request become the subject of a full speed zone review which assessed a number of factors including location, crash history, road environment, the number of access points, road usage, traffic mix and traffic volumes.
The review recommended a reduced 70 km/h speed limit should be implemented for heavy vehicles. This change is supported by Blue Mountains City Council and NSW Police.
“The Darling Causeway is a State Road that runs north to south along a ridge line in the Blue Mountains, linking the Bells Line of Road at Bell to the Great Western Highway at Mount Victoria,” Transport for NSW A/Director West Holly Davies said.
“The road carries more than 1300 vehicles on an average day, about one-quarter of them being heavy vehicles, but can carry many more vehicles on occasions when it is used as a detour route when the Great Western Highway is closed to traffic.
“There is currently an 80 km/h speed limit in place along most of the Darling Causeway, about 9.5 kilometres, and then a 60 km/h speed limit as it passes through the built-up area in Mount Victoria.”
The review found there had been three crashes within the review area over a two-year period, with no fatalities recorded.
“The review found that while an 80 km/h speed limit remained appropriate for light vehicles along most of the Darling Causeway, the road also features lane widths of less than three metres in many sections with little to no shoulder or clear zone, making it difficult for heavy vehicles to navigate curves without crossing the centre line,” Ms Davies said.
“For that reason, from Friday 20 December, a 70 km/h speed limit for trucks and buses will be implemented on the Darling Causeway, starting 200 metres south of Chifley Road and continuing for 9.3 kilometres.
“At the same time, the existing 60 km/h speed limit as the Darling Causeway passes through Mount Victoria will be reduced to 50 km/h for all road users, a distance of 350 metres.”
The changes will add about one minute in travel time for heavy vehicles travelling the full length of the Darling Causeway. New signage will be installed to advise motorists of the changes.
A speed zone review is a comprehensive process that includes site inspections, analysis of the current road environment and road condition, consideration of crash data and traffic volumes.