Great Western Highway through the Blue Mountains
The funding of $2.03b by the Commonwealth towards the $10b road works on the Great Western Highway from Katoomba to Lithgow including an 11km tunnel might be wonderful news for Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange and the Central West of NSW, but far from good news for the 70,000 residents of the Blue Mountains. The Great Western Highway is the LOCAL road that links the sixteen townships and is the only link for this 80km City of The Blue Mountains. Already with the Bells Line of Road limited due to washaways, the increased traffic especially large trucks is making journeys for medical, shopping, education etc very unpleasant. Funds must be directed to increase rail freight through the Mountains. I fear for the future carnage on this 60kph, 70kph and max 80kph road.