After more than three months of disruption, the NSW Government has unveiled its long-term solution for the Victoria Pass closure, announcing a new bridge will be built over the historic Mitchell's Causeway, with the Great Western Highway not expected to reopen until the second quarter of 2027.
The announcement provides long-awaited certainty for motorists, freight operators and businesses across the Blue Mountains and Central West, but also confirms that communities will face many more months of detours and economic disruption.
The Great Western Highway has been closed at Little Hartley since March after engineers discovered serious structural instability in the 200-year-old Mitchell's Causeway, one of Australia's oldest surviving convict-built road structures. Around 12,000 vehicles a day previously used the route.
Rather than attempting to rebuild on the existing causeway, the NSW Government has opted to construct a completely new bridge supported by deep piles anchored into bedrock. The historic causeway will remain in place, be stabilised and preserved as a heritage structure while the new bridge carries traffic independently above it.
Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the Government had chosen a permanent engineering solution rather than a temporary repair.
Construction is expected to begin in July after contractor Seymour Whyte was selected through an accelerated procurement process. The bridge has been designed so that a third traffic lane could be added in the future if required, although it will initially open with two lanes.
Additional Business Support
Alongside the bridge announcement, the NSW Government announced an additional $20 million in financial assistance for businesses affected by the prolonged closure.
Businesses in Mount Victoria, Hartley, Little Hartley and Hartley Vale experiencing financial hardship will now be eligible for grants of up to $25,000, an increase from the previous $10,000 limit.
Eligibility has also been expanded to businesses in Lithgow, Oberon and Blackheath, with grants of up to $10,000 available, extending support to an estimated 1,900 additional businesses.
Mixed Community Response
Lithgow Mayor Cass Coleman welcomed the certainty provided by the announcement but said more support would still be required for communities carrying the burden of the closure.
She noted that around 12,000 cars and trucks each day continue to travel through Lithgow's CBD via the detour, placing significant pressure on local roads and infrastructure, and called for additional assistance to help repair the damage.
However, not all businesses will benefit from the new package.
ABC News reported that one long-established Lithgow business owner has decided to close after 30 years, saying the financial assistance had arrived too late after months of reduced trade had exhausted the business's reserves.
What It Means for Hawkesbury
For Hawkesbury residents, the announcement finally provides certainty about the future of one of the state's most important east-west transport links.
The Victoria Pass closure has diverted large volumes of freight and tourist traffic onto alternative routes, including Bells Line of Road through Bilpin, Mount Tomah and Kurrajong Heights. Since March, local residents have experienced increased heavy vehicle movements, longer travel times and additional pressure on road infrastructure.
The prolonged closure has also affected Hawkesbury businesses that rely on visitors travelling between Sydney and the Central West, particularly tourism operators, accommodation providers, roadside businesses and agricultural enterprises transporting produce.
Transport for NSW has already committed significant funding to strengthen detour routes while Victoria Pass remains closed, and motorists are being advised to continue allowing additional travel time until the new bridge is completed.
While the announcement marks an important milestone, it also confirms that communities across the Blue Mountains, Lithgow and the Hawkesbury will need to adapt to another year of changed traffic patterns before normal access along the Great Western Highway is restored.
Information Source: ABC News
