Concept design - Safety Improvement Upgrades - Great Western Highway Upgrade Program

Reviewed

Project overview

Please be sure to sign up to our ENews list so that you never miss an update about the project. Together, the Australian and NSW Governments are investing more than $4.5 billion towards upgrading the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow. Together, the Australian and NSW Governments have committed more than $2.5 billion towards the East and West sections of the Great Western Highway Upgrade, between Katoomba and Blackheath, and between Little Hartley and Lithgow, respectively. Together, the Australian Government and the NSW Government have committed more than $2.5 billion towards the East and West sections of the Great Western Highway Upgrade, between Katoomba and Blackheath, and between Little Hartley and Lithgow, respectively. Together, the Australian and NSW Governments are investing more than $4.5 billion towards upgrading the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow. The Katoomba to Lithgow duplication will provide major economic and safety benefits. It will improve the connection between Central West NSW and Sydney, reduce congestion, improve resilience and freight productivity, and provide a safer and more reliable journey for thousands of residents, commuters, tourists and freight operators who travel in, around and through the Blue Mountains. The NSW Government has committed $73 million in funding to upgrade the Great Western Highway between Kelso and Raglan to improve safety and efficiency, and reduce travel time along this section of the highway. Roads and Maritime Services has completed the safety upgrades and road improvements on the Great Western Highway between Hartley Valley and Forty Bends. The project was part of the $250 million upgrade package on the Great Western Highway, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments. Roads and Maritime Services has carried out work on safety upgrades and road improvements on the Great Western Highway through Mount Victoria village as part of the Australian and NSW governments joint undertaking of a $250 million upgrade package on the highway between Katoomba and Lithgow to improve traffic flow, safety and travel conditions. In 2012 the NSW and Australian governments agreed on a $250 million revised program of work for the upgrade of the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow. The Australian and New South Wales governments are upgrading the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow for easier, faster and safer travel between Katoomba and Lithgow. The jointly funded $250 million Great Western Highway Safety upgrade between Katoomba and Lithgow has been delivered, with safety works at Blackheath now complete. The Great Western Highway is the key east west road freight transport connection between Sydney and Central West NSW, and the amount of road freight on the Highway is projected to grow 20 per cent by 2036. The Great Western Highway Upgrade Program is striving to set new benchmarks in employment, skills and industry development outcomes in NSW. Skills, Employment and Industry Development aims to maximise outcomes for the local and regional communities and industry and contribute to skills development and diversity within the infrastructure sector. The Great Western Highway is one of Australia’s most historic roads and a key eastwest connection out of Sydney. Over the last 100 years, the NSW Government has progressively upgraded sections of the highway to make it safer and more reliable.

Information

Following consultation during 2013, a final concept design plan, feedback report and a completion report were prepared and can be viewed or downloaded.

The upgrade of the Great Western Highway between Mount Victoria and Lithgow was announced in May 2008 with an initial study area. In June 2008, study area investigations and community consultation started. A background report was also prepared in June 2008.

Some community members requested the viability of an alternative highway upgrade corridor from Marrangaroo (to the west of Lithgow) to Newnes Plateau, Bell, across the Darling Causeway to east of Mount Victoria (a length of about 40 kilometres) be examined. Cardno was engaged to investigate the viability of a Newnes Plateau alternative route.

Five corridors for investigation, including the Newnes Plateau corridor were announced in November 2008, for public comment.

In March 2009 the Department of Defence indicated a long term commitment to the Marrangaroo Army Base and that a highway would not be compatible with its activities on the base.

In April 2009, as a result of community submissions, additional investigations and the decision to no longer consider the Newnes Plateau corridor, four modified corridors were confirmed.

The confirmed corridors were then investigated to help develop feasible route options. These investigations involved:

  • Literature/data review and desktop investigations, particularly with respect to greenhouse gases, land use, socio-economic and noise considerations
  • Field investigations, particularly with respect to Aboriginal heritage, non-Aboriginal heritage, biodiversity, hydrology, geotechnical, contaminated land and urban design considerations
  • Community consultation.

In May and June 2009 community route option development workshop days were conducted. At these workshops the project team and community:

  • Examined more information on highway design criteria and principles
  • Identified the key issues in the confirmed corridors
  • Developed route options, with technical specialists on hand to help.

In August 2009, it was announced further investigations would focus solely on the orange corridor.

In October 2009 route options were announced. Comments from the public were invited on the route options within the orange corridor.

A value management workshop was held in November 2009 attended by community participants and representatives from government agencies, consultant specialists, the project team, councils and environmental, Aboriginal and business groups.

A technical workshop was held in February 2010 and considered the outcomes of the value management workshop, the findings of the additional geotechnical, design, constructability and Aboriginal heritage investigations, additional information gained from the community and stakeholder consultation process, and cost estimates.

Comments and suggestions submitted by the public were a key input into both the value management and technical workshops, influencing the road design and the refinement of options.

In May 2010 a preferred route was announced.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact our project team on 1800 167 499 or western.projects@rms.nsw.gov.au.