Katoomba to Blackheath - Katoomba to Lithgow - Great Western Highway Upgrade Program
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.
Transport for NSW is proposing to widen the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Blackheath to two lanes in each direction.
The upgrade is split into two sections:
- Katoomba to Medlow Bath between Rowan Lane, Katoomba and Bellevue Crescent, Medlow Bath (about 3.5 kilometres)
- Medlow Bath to Blackheath between Station Street, Medlow Bath and Evans Lookout Road, Blackheath (Approximately 2.3km).
Both the Katoomba to Blackheath (East section) and Medlow Bath upgrades have now been approved, with the Medlow Bath section to be the first section of the highway to be upgraded. The project will managed by Transport and funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.
The Submissions Reports and Community Consultation Reports for both sections are now available on the project website portals at nswroads.work/gwheast and nswroads.work/gwhmedlow
Latest news
DEC 2022Medlow Bath Pedestrian Bridge Design Briefings
Transport for NSW is holding the first meeting with selected local representatives to discuss heritage values to be incorporated into the Medlow Bath Pedestrian Bridge design.
The team will be available at the below venues to discuss heritage values with the wider community:
Medlow Bath Railway Station – 4pm-7pm 14th December 2022
Potbelly at Medlow Café – 8am-11am 17th December 2022
OCT 2022Review of Environmental Factors (REF) consultation
Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond and make submissions to the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) consultation for the Medlow Bath and Katoomba to Blackheath (East section) upgrades.
Both the Katoomba to Blackheath (East section) and Medlow Bath upgrades have now been approved, with the Medlow Bath section to be the first section of the highway to be upgraded. The project will managed by Transport and funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.
The Submissions Reports and Community Consultation Reports for both sections are now available on the project website portals at nswroads.work/gwheast and nswroads.work/gwhmedlow
Project information and the full REFs and Submissions Reports for both the Katoomba to Blackheath (East section) and Medlow Bath can be found on the online portals.
AUG 2022Medlow Bath Pedestrian Bridge design briefings
Transport is seeking local representatives to be part of briefings to discuss the Medlow Bath pedestrian bridge design.
Representatives will join the briefing sessions and help us focus on local values and the concept design before they are presented to the wider community.
f you would like to apply, download a copy of the nomination form and terms of reference on the Web portal. Applications must be lodged by Sunday 11 September and emailed to gwhd@transport.nsw.gov.au.
JUL 2022Noise mitigation for Medlow Bath homes on the upgrade route
Medlow Bath residents identified as being impacted by increased traffic noise once the Great Western Highway upgrade is complete will be offered early noise mitigation for their homes to minimise the impacts of construction on their families.
Read the 28 July 2022 media release.
APR 2022Facts on Freight
View information on freight in the Blue Mountains .
MAR 2022Review of Environmental Factors
The Review of Environmental Factors for the Great Western Highway Project - Medlow Bath Upgrade was displayed from 27 July – 5 September 2021.
Following liaison with key local stakeholders, including Blue Mountains City Council, environmental assessment for the Great Western Highway duplication between Katoomba and Blackheath (East) will be considered and determined at once to capture all the potential impacts of the upgrade between the two Blue Mountains townships, including Medlow Bath.
This means that the determination of the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for Medlow Bath and the release of the Submissions Report to this REF will be held until the REF for the Katoomba to Blackheath section of the upgrade has completed its display.
Transport for NSW plans to exhibit the REF for the East section of the highway upgrade, between the towns of Katoomba and Medlow Bath and Medlow Bath and Blackheath, in the first half of 2022.
For more information, please read the March 2022 Community Update (PDF, 345Kb).
FEB 2022Environmental assessment for Blue Mountains communities
The environmental assessments for the Great Western Highway duplication between Katoomba and Blackheath will be considered and determined together to capture all potential impacts of the upgrade.
View the media release for more information.
Project information
In March 2019, the NSW Government committed $2.5 billion towards the upgrade of the road corridor between Katoomba and Lithgow and Transport began consultation on strategic options for this upgrade.
In the 2021 Federal budget, the Australian Government committed $2.03 billion towards the delivery of the eastern and western sections of the upgrade, including the section between Katoomba and Blackheath.
Transport investigated a wide range of upgrade options between Katoomba and Lithgow, to make sure we deliver a connection that minimises environmental impacts, supports local economies, improves travel times and safety and is financially responsible.
A range of options connecting these towns were progressively evaluated against viability criteria.
The result of the options selection process was to progress a surface upgrade of the highway between Katoomba and Lithgow, including duplication of the existing roadway, improved intersections and facilities and an upgraded active transport link through the mountains.
Traffic modelling indicates that approximately 40 per cent of traffic on the Highway between Katoomba and Little Hartley is traveling between Katoomba, Medlow Bath, Blackheath, Mount Victoria and/or the Darling Causeway.
- Improve road alignment
- Water quality
- Recognising historical significance
- Improve safety
- Connecting communities
- New pathways for active Transport
- Better, safer and more reliable trips
Key features of the Katoomba to Medlow Bath section include:
- Widening around 3.5 kilometres of the Great Western Highway between Rowan Lane in Katoomba and Bellevue Crescent in Medlow Bath to provide two lanes in each direction
- Connections to the Medlow Bath Upgrade
- New concrete twin bridges (about 400 metres long) over the valley from Pulpit Hill near Explorers Road
- Upgraded intersections at Nellies Glen Road, Explorers Road and Foy Avenue
- Improved visitor parking at the Pulpit Hill heritage= interpretation area
- A new truck stopping area to the west of Explorers Road
- Upgrade of the Great Blue Mountains Trail to maintain active transport connections between Katoomba and Medlow Bath
- Providing new formalised bus stops on the highway at Nellies Glen Road (westbound), Explorers Road (eastbound) and Foy Avenue
- Upgraded and new drainage infrastructure and water quality controls
Key features of the Medlow Bath to Blackheath section include:
- Widening around 1.8 kilometres of the Great Western Highway between the existing rail overbridge in Medlow Bath to about 200 metres east of Tennyson Road in Blackheath to provide two lanes in each direction
- Connections to the existing highway, providing two lanes in each direction
- Road connection ‘stubs’ for the future Great Western Highway tunnel bypass
- Relocation of the electrical sectioning hut in the rail corridor from next to the highway opposite Coachhouse Lane, on to Station Street
- Extension of the Great Blue Mountains Trail alongside the National Park and Great Western Highway between Medlow Bath and Blackheath
- A new truck stopping area about one kilometre west of Medlow Bath
- Upgraded and new drainage infrastructure and water quality controls
- Investigating opportunities to extend utility relocations and access trails to connect to Blackheath
Katoomba to Blackheath (East Section) Review of Environmental Factors consultation May - June 2022
The Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and Concept Design for the proposed Katoomba to Blackheath Upgrade has now closed.
The REF and concept design for the Katoomba to Blackheath Upgrade was released for community consultation on 15 May 2022, with consultation continuing to 19 June 2022.
The engagement included six community information sessions, which were a mixture of online and face-to-face sessions.
Transport is preparing a Submissions Report summarising and providing responses to submissions received during the REF display period, which is expected to be released in late 2022.
Project information and the full REF can be found on the online portal.
Medlow Bath Upgrade Review of Environmental Factors consultation July – September 2021
The Review of Environmental Factors and Concept Design for the Medlow Bath Upgrade was released for community consultation on 27 July, with consultation continuing to 5 September 2021.
The engagement included six community information sessions, held online in order to comply with advice from NSW Health and Covid-19 restrictions. These sessions were attended by 146 people in total.
A number of targeted information sessions were also held with local businesses, groups and associations and a number of phone consultations were also held.
During the consultation period, we received 348 formal submissions from 250 individual members of the community, businesses and stakeholders. The Submissions Report to the Medlow Bath REF will be released when the REF is determined.
Medlow Bath upgrade consultation June - August 2020
The strategic design for the upgrade of the Great Western Highway through Medlow Bath was released for community consultation on 29 June, with consultation continuing to 31 August 2020. The engagement included eight community information sessions, held online in order to comply with advice from NSW Health and Covid-19 restrictions. The sessions were attended by 70 people. A number of targeted information sessions were also held with local businesses, groups and associations and a number of phone consultations were also held. More than 850 items of feedback were received by the project team.You can view or download the community consultation summary report (PDF, 3.7Mb).
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).
Project documents
Community updates
| File | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Katoomba to Blackheath (East section) and Medlow Bath Community Update October 2022 Katoomba to Blackheath (East section) and Medlow Bath Community Update | 28.97Mb | |
| Katoomba to Blackheath Upgrade - East Community Update May 2022 Katoomba to Blackheath Upgrade - East Community Update | 11.7Mb | |
| Medlow Bath and East REFs to be determined together March 2022 Medlow Bath and East REFs to be determined together | 345Kb | |
| Medlow Bath Upgrade Review of Environmental Factors community update July 2021 Medlow Bath Upgrade Review of Environmental Factors community update | 2.2Mb | |
| Explorers tree community update March 2020 Explorers tree community update | 734Kb | |
| Medlow Bath consultation community update August 2020 Medlow Bath consultation community update | 1.27Mb | |
| Community consultation report community update May 2020 Community consultation report community update | 724Kb | |
| Katoomba to Lithgow community update February 2020 Katoomba to Lithgow community update | 192Kb | |
| Katoomba to Lithgow strategic consultation community update November 2019 Katoomba to Lithgow strategic consultation community update | 5.82Mb |
Project notifications
| File | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
| December 2022 project notification Start of work on Railway Parade landscaping from Tuesday 13 December 2022 | 567Kb | |
| December 2022 project notification Start of work on Medlow Bath Station upgrade from Monday 12 December 2022 | 464Kb | |
| September 2022 project notification Rail building replacement work continuing at Medlow Bath – weekend work. | 291Kb | |
| August 2022 project notification Field investigations in Medlow Bath from Monday 15 August to Saturday 29 October 2022 | 317Kb | |
| August 2021 project notification Field investigations in Medlow Bath from Thursday 19 August to Sunday 31 October 2021. | 402Kb | |
| August 2021 project notification Geotechnical investigations in Medlow Bath from Monday 6 September 2021. | 331Kb | |
| August 2021 project notification Field investigations in Medlow Bath from Thursday 19 August to Sunday 31 October 2021. | 402Kb | |
| August 2021 project notification Geotechnical investigations in Medlow Bath from Monday 6 September 2021. | 331Kb | |
| May 2021 project notification Safety Upgrade works, Medlow Bath, from Wednesday 5 May. | 1.17Mb | |
| April 2021 project notification Geotechnical investigation work on the Great Western Highway in Medlow Bath. | 280Kb | |
| March 2021 project notification Investigation work on the Great Western Highway from Katoomba to Blackheath. | 145Kb | |
| February 2021 project notification Medlow Bath Rail corridor investigation work. | 505Kb | |
| December 2020 project notification Medlow Bath Safety Works. | 371Kb |
Frequently asked questions
Fact sheets
Media releases
| File | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
| 28 July 2022 Noise mitigation for Medlow Bath homes on the upgrade route | 0 | |
| 15 May 2022 Have your say on the Katoomba to Blackheath Great Western Highway upgrade | 0 | |
| 22 February 2022 New approach for environmental assessment for Blue Mountains communities. | 28.7Kb | |
| 31 August 2021 Preservation of Aboriginal heritage a key part of Blue Mountains Highway upgrade. | 27.6Kb | |
| 27 August 2021 Medlow Bath highway design consultion extended. | 26.1Kb | |
| 27 July 2021 Community shapes refined design for Medlow Bath Highway upgrade. | 25.8Kb | |
| 14 June 2021 Great Western Highway upgrade powering ahead. | 27.8Kb | |
| 14 June 2021 Safer passage through Medlow Bath ahead of full highway upgrade. | 26.5Kb | |
| 4 June 2021 Archaeological dig to explore Aboriginal connection to Blue Mountains. | 26.4Kb | |
| 18 December 2020 Contracts awarded for Great Western Highway upgrade works. | 24.8Kb | |
| 17 December 2020 Safety drives highway upgrade at Medlow Bath. | 25.5Kb | |
| 28 September 2020 Contract awarded for Great Western Highway upgrade through Medlow Bath. | 26.7Kb | |
| 6 August 2020 Medlow Bath residents have more time to consider Great Western Highway design. | 25.7Kb | |
| 7 June 2020 Medlow Bath residents invited to have their say on Great Western Highway design. | 27.1Kb | |
| 13 May 2020 Locals have their say on Great Western Highway upgrade. | 26.04Kb | |
| 7 November 2019 Have your say on Great Western Highway. | 26.9Kb | |
| 11 March 2019 Green light for $2.5 billion Great western highway duplication. | 25.99Kb |
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like more information please contact our project team:
Phone: 1800 953 777
Email:gwhd@transport.nsw.gov.au
Post: Great Western Highway Upgrade Program - PO Box 2332, Orange NSW 2800