Medlow Bath Upgrade

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Together, the Australian Government and the NSW Government are investing $174.4 million towards the Medlow Bath Upgrade.

Together, the Australian Government and the NSW Government are investing $174.4 million towards the Medlow Bath Upgrade.

The Medlow Bath Upgrade, including a new pedestrian bridge, will reduce congestion and improve safety and accessibility for all road users, rail and bus commuters, and pedestrians.

Transport for NSW (Transport) is widening 1.2 kilometres of the Great Western Highway through Medlow Bath between 300 metres east of Bellevue Crescent to Station Street to two lanes in each direction, providing a safer, more efficient road.

The Medlow Bath Upgrade will create at least 400 new jobs during construction.

The Medlow Bath Upgrade began construction in March 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2025.

The project is managed by Transport and funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.

Latest news

March 2024 – Medlow Bath Upgrade General Works Update 

Read the project notification (PDF, 292.92 KB).

February 2024 - Medlow Bath Upgrade Community Update

Read the community notification (PDF, 630.85 KB).

February 2024 - Work in Bellevue Crescent from 4 March

Read the community notification (PDF, 710.96 KB).

 

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 information

Background

The Great Western Highway is one of Australia’s most historic roads and a key east-west connection out of Sydney. Over the last one hundred years, the NSW Government has progressively upgraded sections of the highway to make it safer and more reliable.

From 2019 – 2023 Transport conducted planning, design and environmental approval of a series of proposed highway upgrades between Katoomba and Lithgow.

As part of this investigation Transport investigated a wide range of upgrade options and the option selected for Medlow Bath was a surface upgrade of the highway, including duplication of the existing road, improved intersections and facilities, a new pedestrian bridge delivering improved access across the highway and linking to new lift access to Medlow Bath Station, and an upgraded active transport link.

Benefits

  • Making traffic safer by separating oncoming traffic flows and improving intersections 

  • Improving accessibility with a new shared path and an accessible pedestrian bridge across the highway 

  • Improving water quality with a drainage and water quality basin 

  • Encouraging active transport with an upgraded walking and cycling path that links to the Greater Blue Mountains Trail 

Features

  • Upgrade of 1.2 kilometres of the Great Western Highway

  • A new pedestrian bridge providing disability compliant access across the highway and linking to a new lift to Medlow Bath Railway Station.

  • Traffic signals and dedicated turning lanes to Bellevue Crescent

  • Improved access and dedicated turning lanes to the Hydro Majestic

  • A new shared pathway and vegetated verge providing a buffer from the Highway 

  • Safer access for properties facing onto highway

  • Improved water quality with a new water treatment basin

  • Improved landscaping and a community led landscaping initiative on Railway Parade

  • New parking and garden beds on Railway Parade 

  • Relocated mural bus shelter from the Great Western Highway to Medlow Park

Design improvements

Consultation has led to the following design improvements which are now part of the Medlow Bath Upgrade:

  • Revised U-turn bay on Bellevue Crescent to only be a safe access for six local properties
  • Increased lane widths from 3.35 metres to 3.5 metres,
  • Improved pedestrian access to the station on Railway Parade
  • Rescoped pedestrian bridge incorporating community feedback  
  • Traffic signals at Bellevue Crescent
  • Safer access for properties with access onto highway
  • Station Street left open to two-way traffic and retaining walls reduced
  • Vegetated buffer to better separate highway and shared path
  • Community‑led landscaping on Railway Parade
  • Relocated mural bus shelter from the highway to Medlow Park
  • Additional parking on Railway Parade to offset parking removed from the highway
  • Refined Railway Parade parking design incorporating more landscaping and additional parking for local business
  • Refined water quality basin design

Community updates

Medlow Bath Upgrade - view the animation

 

Medlow Bath pedestrian bridge

The NSW government is improving accessibility at Medlow Bath Station as part of the Transport Access Program, with a new pedestrian bridge and station upgrade expected to be complete in 2025.

Following community feedback and consultation with Heritage NSW and Blue Mountains City Council, Transport developed a new design for the Pedestrian Bridge which minimises heritage impacts to the state-listed Medlow Bath Railway Station building and provides safer, equitable access for everyone.

Once the bridge is complete, Transport will remove the existing level crossing over the railway line and the pedestrian refuge in the Great Western Highway.

Transport is removing railway level crossings across NSW to improve safety and accessibility at all railway stations.


Pedestrian Bridge Community Reference Group Minutes

Consultation has led to the following design improvements which are now part of the Medlow Bath Upgrade:

For more information, please see the Medlow Bath Transport Access Plan page.

Community information

Community Advisory Group

Community consultations

Medlow Bath Upgrade Review of Environmental Factors consultation July – September 2021

The REF and Concept Design for the Medlow Bath Upgrade was available for community consultation from 27 July to 5 September 2021. The engagement included six online community information sessions, in line with existing Covid-19 restrictions.

The REF has now been determined and approved and Transport has released a Submissions Report and a Community Consultation Report (PDF, 18.46 MB).

Medlow Bath upgrade strategic design consultation June - August 2020

The strategic design for the upgrade of the Great Western Highway through Medlow Bath was available for community consultation from 29 June to 31 August 2020. The engagement included eight online community information sessions, in line with advice from NSW Health and Covid-19 restrictions.

You can view or download the community consultation summary report (PDF, 3.7Mb).

Katoomba to Lithgow strategic design consultation

The strategic design for the upgrade of the Great Western Highway from Katoomba to Lithgow was available for community consultation from 07 November to 16 December 2019. The engagement included nine community information sessions, two pop up displays and one public meeting.

You can view or download the community consultation summary report (PDF, 18.5Mb).

Medlow Bath Interactive Portal

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

 

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.

 

Project notifications 2024

Project notifications 2023

Project notifications 2022

Project notifications 2021

Project notifications 2020

Reports

July 2021 - Medlow Bath Upgrade Review of Environmental Factors

Review of Environmental Factors Fact Sheets

Media Releases

 

Contact us

For further information about the Medlow Bath Upgrade, please contact:

Phone: 1800 953 777

Email:gwh@transport.nsw.gov.au

Post: Medlow Bath Upgrade Project Team - PO Box 334, Parkes NSW 2870.

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