In March 2019, the NSW Government announced it would duplicate the Great Western Highway, from Katoomba to Lithgow over 10 years.
The NSW Government will commence construction on upgrades between Katoomba to Mount Victoria, including:
- Medlow Bath upgrade
- Blackheath to Little Hartley, and
- Jenolan Caves Road to Forty Bends.
And will commence planning upgrades at:
- Katoomba to Medlow Bath
- Medlow Bath to Blackheath
- Little Hartley to Jenolan Caves Road, and
- Forty Bends to South Bowenfels.
A tunnel at Blackheath is also planned. The design of the tunnel includes three possible portal options:
- A northern portal next to the Mount Boyce Heavy Vehicle Safety Station
- A short southern tunnel portal option located in Sutton Park, and
- A long southern tunnel portal option south of Evans Lookout Road.
The NSW Government is also investigating an 11-kilometre tunnel linking the two tunnels (previously planned to be separate) at Blackheath and Mount Victoria.
Key Dates
| Mar 2019 | Project Announcement |
| 2023 | Expected Construction Commencement |
| 2030 | Expected Construction Completion |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government | |
| NSW Government |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Transport for NSW |
| Related contracts: |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Mar 2020 | Transport for NSW called for tenders to prepare a Strategic Business Case and Economic Analysis for priority projects in the Great Western Highway Upgrade Program. The successful bidder may also be required to prepare two Final Business Cases for priority projects, as determined during the development of the strategic business case. The tender process is open until 9 April 2020. |
| May 2020 | Registrations of Interest (ROI) were invited to finalise a Preferred Concept Design, prepare a Detailed Design and complete an Environmental Assessment for the Medlow Bath section of the project. |
| Aug 2020 | TfNSW opened ROIs for the design and preparation of environmental assessments for the Great Western Highway duplication. |
| Sep 2020 | MRB Technical Services was appointed by NSW Government to review and refine the strategic design of the project. |
| Oct 2020 | Transport for NSW selected a tunnel as the preferred option for the Greater Western Highway upgrade at Blackheath. |
| Dec 2020 | An Aurecon and Arcadis-Jacobs Joint Venture were appointed to design the eastern and western sections of the project respectively and prepare environmental assessments. |
| May 2021 | The Federal Government announced $2 billion in additional funding for the Great Western Highway Upgrade in the 2021-22 Federal Budget. The NSW Government also announced that it is investigating linking the tunnels at Blackheath and Mount Victoria to create a single 11-kilometre tunnel for the project. |
| Jun 2021 | The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) were requested for the Blackheath to Little Hartley section of the project. The 2021-22 NSW Budget also allocated $2 billion toward the Great Western Highway Upgrade over the next four years, including $131.5 million in FY2021-22. |
| Sep 2021 | The NSW Government commenced a Market Interaction Process (MIP) for the Medlow Bath and Coxs River Road construct only contracts, closing 1 October. The MIP will gauge market appetite, capacity and capability specifically to deliver the Medlow Bath, and Coxs River Road packages. |
| Nov 2021 | Transport for NSW opened Request for Tenders for the project's Transactions Services, closing 17 December. |
| Nov 2021 | The NSW and Federal Governments released the Review of Environmental Factors and the concept design for the West section of the Great Western Highway upgrade between Little Hartley and Lithgow. |
Estimated Total Cost
(2019)
Sector
Road
Procurement approach
Unconfirmed |
Location
New South Wales |
Infrastructure Australia status
Priority Initiative (near-term, 0-5 years)
Resources
