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Electronic signage has gone up at the Kurrajong intersection warning commuters that Bells Line of Road will be closed between North Richmond and Mount Victoria via Darling Causeway from 6am to 12.30pm on Sunday, November 16, 2025, to accommodate the Vic 100 charity bike race.
The road will reopen in stages with access reopened by 10am from Kurrajong and 12pm from Bell. Motorists travelling between Lithgow and Sydney on Sunday will need to use the Great Western Highway instead. Some road closures at Mt Victoria maybe extended to 4pm.
Motorist travelling east bound from properties along Bells Line Road will be subject to traffic control and a 40 km speed restriction. Local west bound traffic maybe more restricted as cyclist will be using this road lane.
The event, which begins with groups of riders commencing between 5.30am and 7.30am at Tench Avenue, Penrith, raises funds for Lifeline mental health services located in Gordon, Campbelltown, and Bathurst. Riders will pass through the Hawkesbury en route to the Blue Mountains, finishing at Mount Victoria.
Financial Benefits Skip the Hawkesbury
While the race promises a boost for early-opening cafes in Penrith and a crowd of supporters expected at the Mount Victoria finish line, Hawkesbury businesses are left out of the equation. The event transits through the region without allowance for spectators rest points. Bike riders have been given notice of toilet and food breaks at Kurrajong Village and Bilpin Village and Mt Tomah Botantic Gardens.
The region’s agritourism-dependent businesses along Bells Line of Road face a significant financial blow, with the closure falling on a Sunday, the busiest trading day of the week. From Mt Tomah to Kurrajong Heights, operators rely heavily on weekend visitors for their livelihoods.
“Closing the main artery for half a day on a Sunday effectively shuts down our region’s trade for the whole day” says Marg Tadrosse Bilpin Fruit Bowl and President of Bells Line Road Business Council and the cost to our agri and tourism businesses will be substantial into the $100,000's.
“We support mental health initiatives but it’s disheartening that our businesses are footing the bill for a charity event where the funds raised go to services outside the Hawkesbury region.”
Charity Cause, Local Cost
While the Vic 100 aims to raise funds for an important cause, its economic cost is being shouldered by small businesses and residents who will lose access to the only direct route connecting the Hawkesbury to the Blue Mountains for more than six hours.
Vic 100 material shows riders that Kurrajong, Bilpin and Mt Tomah have public toilets and food available for riders wanting to stop. How this has been factored into road closures, particularly for the last group of riders leaving Penrith at 7.30am is unknown.
Residents along the route will also face delays and limited movement, with no alternate public transport options or detours announced for the morning of the event.
Local business groups have expressed concern that the Hawkesbury continues to be treated as a transit zone rather than a destination, with little consultation and no compensation for closures that disrupt trade and community access.
As another local business owner put it, “We’re proud to support charity efforts, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of our own community’s wellbeing and economic sustainability.”says a businessperson that doesn't want to be named for fear of negative publicity on social media.
