THE figure of $2.5 billion has been used regularly in relation to the cost of a proposed widening of the Great Western Highway between Lithgow and Katoomba. It will be far more.
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That amount is what the NSW Government committed to early last year during the election campaign: pre-drought, pre-fires and pre-pandemic.
People may get the impression that this is the total cost of the project. It is not.
While the final route is yet to be decided, the cheapest option involves some tunnels and bridges near Mount Victoria plus a possible dual carriageway right through the middle of Blackheath.
What if Transport for NSW wanted to put a dual carriageway right through Bathurst (instead of building the southern bypass for example)?
It would be 20 to 30 metres wide, start at the bridge, go most of the way up Havannah Street, along Brilliant Street and on to the jail.
Eighty to 100 homes and businesses wiped out. Lives destroyed.
We wouldn't allow that to happen here but that is what our neighbours in Blackheath (and Medlow Bath) are facing.
The cost to taxpayers? At least $3 billion.
The government has promised the Blackheath community a tunnel if they want one. That will cost another $2 billion.
Then add to that the inevitable cost blowouts on big projects like this and taxpayers won't be getting much change out of $8 billion.
We don't have that sort of money for a road that won't be finished for another eight to 10 years!
We need to stimulate the economy now with lots of smaller projects.
There are probably a few roads out this way which could do with some love.
The other major concern is that the government won't allow the people of Blackheath or Medlow Bath to talk about upgrading the rail line to reduce congestion.
That would only cost between $800 million and $1.8 billion. Billions of dollars could be saved.
It would also save Blackheath, Medlow Bath and the character of a World Heritage Area.
Safety is another issue. There have been a number of fatal accidents involving B doubles recently and if this plan goes ahead, B doubles longer than 19m will be allowed on the road all the way from Bathurst to Sydney.
We face the prospect of having to negotiate the 23 sets of traffic lights between Katoomba and Lapstone in between and around all those big trucks.
Any time gained initially - the estimate is for a total of 10 minutes - will be lost with all that extra traffic.
If readers are concerned, they can contact our local member who is the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads.
