So what would happen if the Great Western Highway was two lanes in both directions from Penrith to Mount Victoria, Lithgow or Orange, rather than Penrith to Katoomba?

What is each extra kilometre of two lanes in both directions worth to the Central Tablelands?

And what is the possibility of convincing a government to pay for it?

A report in the metropolitan media this week indicated how quickly life is changing in Sydney’s west and the Blue Mountains villages above after the investment in the region’s infrastructure.

The Blue Mountains as a whole has seen 12.5 per cent house price growth in the past year – since the Great Western Highway became two lanes in both directions all the way from Penrith to Katoomba – and 52.8 per cent growth from five years ago, according to the report.

That’s a result of Sydneysiders flooding in, taking advantage of new jobs in Sydney’s west that are within a commuting striking distance of centres like Katoomba, Springwood and Glenbrook.

Essentially, the Blue Mountains are becoming an extension of Sydney, with all the problems and benefits that come with that change – and if the Blue Mountains are part of Sydney, that brings Sydney closer to Bathurst.

So what are the chances of the Great Western Highway’s duplication continuing to crawl towards Lithgow, helping to open up the Central Tablelands beyond?

Not good, some would say – but that’s what would once have been said about the upgrade of the Penrith to Katoomba stretch.

Premier Mike Baird has shown himself to be a builder, committing his government to a multi-billion dollar infrastructure spending program that includes new rail lines, new light rail lines and a new motorway in the NSW capital.

He says he wants to ease the pressure on Sydney – but another way to do so would be to make it easier for people to live close to the metropolitan area’s edges and travel easily to their jobs. 

Having seen the benefits to the Blue Mountains, perhaps Mr Baird could commit to a continuation of the Great Western Highway upgrade beyond Katoomba, pushing a little further towards the plains beyond.

Who knows what a fast lane or two could do.