A Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) spokesperson said the Australian and NSW governments have announced the route options for the upgrade of the Great Western Highway between Mt Victoria and Lithgow.

To facilitate all the options released at the weekend, the RTA will be holding community meetings at Mt Victoria and Hartley this coming Saturday and Wednesday.

The RTA spokesperson said the route options have been developed in the ‘orange’ corridor which generally follows the existing Great Western Highway.

Included among the options are viaducts varying length from 750 metres to 1900 metres and up to 110 metres high to bypass the existing Mt Victoria Pass.

“There are alternative routes included at Mt Victoria, Little Hartley, River Lett Hill and Forty Bends,” the spokesperson said.

“There are three route options which would provide a bypass of the main village of Mt Victoria.

“They include viaducts and-or a tunnel along routes generally to the north of the village and north of the existing highway.

“The tunnel options would go under Mt York Road.

“At Little Hartley, the route options include a possible realignment of the highway which would avoid impact on the heritage listed Harp of Erin.”

The spokesperson said the route options for bypassing River Lett Hill include a new crossing of River Lett and new section of road which would eliminate the bends on this part of the highway.

“The proposed routes at Forty Bends include realignments to provide a straighter highway without the bends and rises and dips.

“These route options would improve the safety of this section of the Great Western Highway.”

The spokesperson said the community now has an opportunity to study the route options in detail and provide feedback.

“The display of the route options can be viewed at Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Oberon Councils; the Lithgow and Katoomba libraries and the Lithgow Motor Registry.”