Little Hartley to Lithgow Upgrade

Reviewed

Transport for NSW (Transport) has investigated widening the Great Western Highway between Little Hartley and Lithgow to two lanes in each direction.

The bulk of the proposed Little Hartley to Lithgow Upgrade is currently paused awaiting confirmation of funding by both the Australian and State Governments.  

The Coxs River Road Upgrade is funded and has begun construction.

 

Interactive portal

To learn more about the planning undertaken for this project, view our interactive portal for more information.

Project information

Background

The NSW Government first announced an upgrade of the Great Western Highway from Mount Victoria to Lithgow in May 2008. 

From 2008-2013 Transport worked with the community to develop a preferred route and concept design for the proposed upgrade. A concept design was completed in 2013 and the road corridor was reserved in the Local Environmental Plans for the Blue Mountains and Lithgow City councils. 

Between March 2019 and March 2023 Transport for NSW investigated an upgrade of the Great Western Highway between Little Hartley and Lithgow. 

Transport investigated a wide range of upgrade options and the upgrade option proposed was a surface upgrade of the highway between Little Hartley and Lithgow. 

In 2019 the NSW Government committed $2.5 billion towards the upgrade of the Great Western Highway corridor between Katoomba and Lithgow and in 2021 the Australian Government committed $2.03 billion towards the upgrade of the highway between Katoomba and Blackheath and Little Hartley and Lithgow. 

In late 2022 and early 2023 the NSW and Australian Governments deferred the majority of this funding for two years. 

Features

Key features of the proposed upgrade:

  • widening and upgrading the Great Western Highway between Little Hartley and Lithgow to a safer four lane divided highway
  • provision of service roads for local traffic
  • safer, controlled access onto the highway
  • provision of two heavy/light vehicle rest areas
  • new bridges to allow safer, separated intersections for local traffic
  • upgrade of the existing bridge over River Lett
  • provision of a westbound climbing (third) lane on River Lett Hill.

Community information

Community consultations

Little Hartley to Lithgow (West section) updated concept design consultation
October 2022 – November 2022

Transport for NSW displayed an updated concept design for the upgrade of the Great Western Highway between the base of Mount Victoria and Coxs River Road, Little Hartley for community feedback from 24 October to 20 November 2022. Engagement included an online and a face-to-face information session. Feedback provided during the display will be addressed as part of the Addendum REF process, and responses will be provided in a Community Consultation Report.

The updated concept design can be viewed on the project interactive web portal.

Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) Review of Environmental Factors consultation November 2021 – January 2022

The Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and concept design for the Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) upgrade was released for community consultation on 23 November 2021, with consultation continuing to 16 January 2022. The engagement included six community information sessions, which were a mixture of online and COVIDSafe face-to-face sessions.

Submissions have been categorised and formally responded to in the Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) Submissions Report. Transport has also prepared a Consultation Report summarising the community engagement carried out during the REF display period. Both reports were released on 29 June and can be viewed and downloaded from the project interactive web portal.

Concept design consultation – 2020-2021

Throughout 2020/21 the project team consulted with residents living near major intersections on the highway between Little Hartley and Lithgow to further refine and improve elements of the concept design.

Consultation primarily focused on improving road safety and intersection treatments, ensuring a high level of local access for residents, and early engagement with affected property owners. This resulted in improvements to the concept design completed in 2013.

Katoomba to Lithgow strategic design consultation November - December 2019

The strategic design for the upgrade of the Great Western Highway from Katoomba to Lithgow was released for community consultation on 07 November 2019, with consultation continuing to 16 December 2019. The engagement included nine community information sessions, two pop up displays and one public meeting held along the corridor at locations including Katoomba, Medlow Bath, Blackheath, Mount Victoria, Hartley and Lithgow. The sessions were attended by 1350 people and 1759 items of feedback were received by the project team. You can view or download the community consultation summary report (PDF, 18.5Mb).

Mount Victoria to Lithgow consultation – 2008-2013

Transport for NSW worked closely with the community from 2008 to 2013 to develop the concept design for the upgrade of the Great Western Highway between Mount Victoria and Lithgow. The local community was involved in consultation sessions, workshops and field surveys to help determine a preferred upgrade route.

As part of the concept development, a corridor through Newnes Plateau was investigated but was ruled out as it required land needed by the Department of Defence at Marangaroo. Other alignments to the north and south were also considered, but were much longer and the terrain more challenging than the preferred option through the Hartley Valley.

View or download the Mount Victoria to Lithgow reports.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

 

Subscribe to project updates

We will send regular email updates to people interested in this project.

Email us on gwh@transport.nsw.gov.au to be added to our subscription list or phone 1800 953 777.

 

Project documents

Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG).

If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us.

 

Community notifications

Project notifications

Factsheets

Little Hartley to Lithgow (West Section) Reports

Mount Victoria to Lithgow reports

 

Media releases

  • 23 Aug 2023
    Community invited to help shape the look of key element in Coxs River Road upgrade

Contact us

For further information about this project, please contact:

Phone: 1800 953 777

Email: gwh@transport.nsw.gov.au

Post: Great Western Highway Upgrade Program - PO Box 334, Parkes NSW 2870.

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