Final stage of Great Western Highway Upgrade opens to traffic

Parliamentary Secretary for Roads Andrew Gee announced the $75 million Great Western Highway at Bullaburra East opened to traffic this week, completing the upgrade between Emu Plains and Katoomba.

“Almost 200 years after the first road crossing opened across the Blue Mountains in 1815, the final section of the Great Western Highway upgrade has opened to traffic,” Mr. Gee said.

“Since 2011, the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government has invested more than $650 million (including another $87 million in the 2015-16 NSW Budget) to upgrade the Great Western Highway from Emu Plains all the way through to Bathurst.

“This is the largest investment in the highway in the history of the state, dwarfing Labor allocations when in office by 30 per cent.”

The highway is a key freight and transport link between Sydney and New South Wales and locals and visitors will benefit from its four lanes that will improve safety and cut travel times.

“A centre median has been installed in the newest section between widened lanes with new dedicated turn lanes and intersections built to improve access,” said Mr. Gee.

“Today, the Great Western Highway is unrecognisable from Cox’s original road of the 1800s however retains the spirit of the original pioneers and will continue to deliver significant benefits to NSW and local communities for many years to come,” Mr. Gee said.