17 December 2020

A safer, smoother Great Western Highway through Medlow Bath is on its way with immediate safety upgrades planned at Bellevue Crescent and Foy Avenue as the wider highway upgrade powers ahead.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the NSW Government had listened to feedback provided through the consultation process for the $2.5 billion Great Western Highway upgrade, and was delivering early safety upgrades in response.

“The community has made it very clear that they want a safer highway through Medlow Bath – and we want to deliver on that as soon as possible,” Mr Toole said.

“That’s why work will start in January 2021 to widen the highway at Bellevue Crescent and Foy Avenue while designs are refined for the full duplication of the highway through Medlow Bath.”

The highway will be widened at each intersection and a dedicated right hand turn lane and through lane provided. In addition, the shoulder of the highway will also be widened to facilitate deceleration for left hand turns.

“This work will provide an immediate safety benefit to local traffic at Medlow Bath, which will be further enhanced when longer term work to duplicate the Highway through the town starts in 2022,” Mr Toole said

Mr Toole said community consultation had generated more than 850 pieces of feedback and would help inform the design for the full upgrade.

“We’re doing everything we can to deliver the best outcome for the Medlow Bath community and while some feedback has suggested tunnelling under Medlow Bath, the gradient and short length of this section means it’s not feasible. The corridor is already well defined and allows the highway to be duplicated with minimal property and environmental impacts while improving safety.

“Landscaping and suggestions on planting of bushfire resistant trees was a theme which we have taken on board and will explore. We are conscious the trees planted along the highway are important to local residents and we will do everything we can to minimise impacts.”

The Medlow Bath Community Consultation Summary Report is available at nswroads.work/greatwesternhighway

An environmental assessment and refined design will go out for further community consultation in mid-2021.

The project team can be contacted on 1800 953 777 or at gwhd@transport.nsw.gov.au