Central West highway roadwork crews to triple in answer to urgent repairs

Works will largely take place between Orange and Lithgow, where repairs have been deemed a high priority.

Bathurst MP and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the challenging weather has prevented crews from adequately filling in potholes and carrying out repairs as they would under normal circumstances.

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"Transport for NSW has allocated emergency funding and tripled the resources to prioritise repair work across the Central West, particularly between Bathurst and Orange along the Mitchell Highway," Mr Toole said.

"We know how frustrating it can be for locals using these highways every day to face delays while this repair work is being carried out, but this will help ensure all road users get home safety at the end of each journey."

There are currently three active projects underway on the Mitchell and Great Western Highways between Orange and Lithgow under the Saving Lives on Country Roads program focused on improving safety and upgrading large sections of pavement.

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Progress on these sections has been halted whilst Transport for NSW prioritise corrective works caused by ongoing weather impacts.

"In July alone, maintenance teams throughout the region dedicated more than 1400 hours to deliver 32 inspections, repair 4300 potholes and respond to 35 incidents, including to snow and ice incidents," Mr Toole said.

"We want to assure Central West communities we are doing all we can to get both the Mitchell Highway and the Great Western Highway back into shape as quickly as we can with six crews at work between Lithgow and Orange."

The announcement comes after the Western Advocate published a story on July 31 where Bathurst transport industry stalwart Graham Burke described the condition of the Mitchell Highway as a "bloody disgrace," and suggested the problem is beyond heavy rain and snow.

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"The drainage is just dreadful. Water lies along the edge of the road in the culverts and as the vehicles and, in particular, the big trucks go along, they vibrate the road and it brings the moisture up-that's what causes the problems," Mr Burke said.

"It's not the surface rain. Have a look where road is broken up, the bulk of the time you'll find there is water lying on the side of the road."

"If you look at statistics I think you'll find the Mitchell Highway is one of the stretches with the highest crash rates.

For more information on the roadworks, visit nswroads.work/safetyupgrade.

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