THE state's new Regional Roads and Transport Minister wants to see 100km/h stretches of highway from Lithgow to Penrith and has floated the idea of "looking at costings" for a tunnel under the Blue Mountains.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Coalition Government has committed to a $2.5 billion, 31-kilometre duplication of the Great Western Highway between Lithgow and Katoomba, with work to start in the next four years.
But the member for Bathurst and freshly-installed regional roads minister Paul Toole said he would also use the next four years to start planning the next stage of upgrades to the pivotal Orange-to-Sydney route.
It's a big job but, who knows, if the feds come on board and give us some real money then maybe we can expedite it even faster than that.
- Member for Bathurst Paul Toole
"What I want is a safe and fast road from Lithgow to Penrith where you can travel at 100km/h because one of the real frustrations at the moment are all the speed limit changes," he said.
"When you get to towns like Blackheath, though, you really can't go around so the only way is to go under so we want to start looking at costings for tunnels in the next four years.
"It's a big job but, who knows, if the feds come on board and give us some real money then maybe we can expedite it even faster than that."
Mr Toole said his new portfolio would also have him overseeing the introduction of a second daily return rail service to Sydney in early 2020 and further Great Western Highway improvements from Kelso to Raglan.
And the state government will take back control of more than 15,000 kilometres of roads across the state from local councils to ease financial pressure on local government.
Mr Toole capped a big 10 days on Tuesday when he was officially sworn in to the new portfolio, the first time roads and transport ministries have been split into separate regional and metropolitan portfolios.
It comes after a big win at the state election on March 23 when he defied a statewide swing against the Nationals and just days after he became deputy leader of the NSW Nationals.
He said splitting the portfolios would bring a greater focus to regional projects.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE AND DISTRICT NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...