DRILLING in the Blue Mountains in preparation for the duplication of the Great Western Highway will continue until late May, according to Roads and Maritime Services.
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Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said last week that drilling rigs were at work in the Mountains as work goes on behind the scenes before the project to widen and, in some cases, tunnel under the highway begins.
Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) says traffic conditions have changed in the village of Medlow Bath due to geotechnical investigations.
"Investigations will inform the development of the Great Western Highway upgrade and involve the drilling of boreholes and test pits adjacent to the highway and along Railway Parade and Station Street," an RMS spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said work will be carried out between 7am and 5pm on weekdays for about 20 shifts until Monday, May 24.
"Up to six night shifts will also be required between 9pm and 5am, from Monday, May 17 to Monday, May 24, weather permitting," the spokesperson said.
"Changed traffic conditions will include shoulder closures close to where testing is carried out for the safety of workers and motorists and temporary lane closures for night work.
"During night work, traffic control may be in place where necessary, with reduced speed limits of 40km/h and temporary lane closures."
The NSW Government has committed $2.5 billion so far to a duplication of the highway from Katoomba to Lithgow, which will include a tunnel under Blackheath, whose length has yet to be determined, and a four-kilometre tunnel under Mount Victoria.
Hours were added to the trip between Sydney and Bathurst when the Easter long weekend collided with the closure of part of Bells Line of Road due to landslides caused by heavy rain in March.
Bells Line has since reopened in a limited capacity, but transport between Bathurst and the state capital remains a hot topic in town.
