NSW Nationals: Great Western Highway upgrade getting under way

The countdown is under way to the start of upgrade work on the Little Hartley to Lithgow section of the Great Western Highway, with Ausconnex awarded the contract to carry out early works at Coxs River Road.

Deputy Premier Paul Toole said a new-look interchange at Coxs River Road, with a road bridge over the upgraded highway, will be the first phase of the west section of the upgrade, and one that’s set to transform travel in and around the western base of the Blue Mountains.

“The Great Western Highway upgrade is a transformative project that will deliver safer and more efficient journeys for the thousands of people who travel through the mountains every day,” Mr Toole said.

“A better road over the mountains has been talked about for years – and we’re making it a reality with the project on track to see shovels in the ground early next year.

“The NSW Government is working closely with the local community on the final design to deliver a better, safer highway for all users.”

The Coxs River Road work will start later this month and involve an upgrade of about 2.4 kilometres of existing highway at Little Hartley to create a four-lane divided carriageway.

A new interchange will carry local traffic over the new highway and work will also include realigning parts of the existing highway to create a local service road, as well as upgrades to the intersections with Browns Gap Road and Baaners Lane.

Nationals Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said early work relocating utility assets is expected to get under way soon.

“The upgrade will undoubtedly make a tangible difference to daily life for the thousands of people living in and travelling through the Blue Mountains on the highway,” Mr Farraway said.

“I’m excited that we have awarded the early works contract for this section and we will soon be a step closer to our first sod turn on this game changing project.

“As part of early works around four kilometres of overhead power lines and underground assets will be moved so we can build the new highway.

“The contract for the major work is currently out to tender and we’re aiming to award in late 2022, with work scheduled to start in early 2023.”

The Australian and NSW Governments are investing more than $4.5 billion towards duplicating the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow.

For more information, visit the Transport for NSW website – https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/great-western-highway/index.html