Upgrades along the Great Western Highway at Hartley Valley are now complete, ensuring a safer and smoother trip for motorists travelling between Orange and Sydney.
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Member for Calare Andrew Gee said nine intersections were upgraded along the 7.5-kilometre section to improve traffic flow and safety for motorists.
“Work also involved lane and shoulder widening, upgrading drainage, installing concrete and wire rope safety barriers, and resurfacing the road,” Mr Gee said.
“The upgrade of the highway through Hartley Valley saw the creation of more than 833 direct and indirect jobs, a great win for the local community with the completed works benefiting motorists for years to come.”
The roadworks along Forty Bends are still being finalised.
MAP: Where are there ongoing roadworks?
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the milestone was great news for all road users.
“Along with providing road users with a better travel experience, this upgrade has improved safety and boosted efficiency for motorists travelling along this busy stretch of highway,” Mr Toole said.
New South Wales Minister for Roads Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said the Great Western Highway was an important transport link between Sydney and the Central West.
She said the upgrades would provide much needed improvements for local motorists, freight users and tourists.
“More than 24,000 vehicles a day travel on the Blue Mountains section of the Great Western Highway so delivering this upgrade on time was critical to ensuring the safety of all motorists,” Mrs Pavey said.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the Australian Government’s $75 billion infrastructure program of works was an investment in creating jobs and delivering a safer, more efficient national road network.
“The Hartley Valley upgrades are one of the key safety investments underway in regional New South Wales,” Mr Chester said.
“The $250 million package of works between Katoomba and Lithgow was jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments, and proves that when all levels of government work together cooperatively great things can be achieved.”
The Australian Government provided $56 million to the $70 million project in partnership with the NSW Government.
