AIR quality monitoring stations are being installed as part of the latest preparations for a proposed Great Western Highway road tunnel in the Blue Mountains.
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The information taken from the stations will be used to prepare an environmental impact statement for the upgrade of the highway in that section, according to the NSW Government.
The government announced in October 2020 that it would build a tunnel under Blackheath and announced that it was investigating building a longer tunnel, bypassing both Blackheath and Mount Victoria, in May this year.
It will be part of the multi-billion-dollar Great Western Highway duplication from Lithgow to Katoomba, which has funding committed from both the NSW and federal governments.
Transport for NSW director west Alistair Lunn said the aim was to ensure the upgrade of the highway through the Blue Mountains has the least possible impact.
"To do this, we need to obtain baseline data about the Blue Mountains environment, including air quality," he said.
"Air quality monitoring stations will measure the concentration of air pollutants, like nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter in the air, as well as weather conditions, including temperature, wind direction and speed.
"Data from these monitoring stations will help us prepare the environmental impact statement for the Great Western Highway upgrade from Blackheath to Little Hartley."
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The latest preparations for the tunnel follow the NSW Government releasing revised designs for the 1.2-kilometre upgrade at Medlow Bath to turn the highway into a four-lane divided carriageway of two lanes of traffic in each direction.
That work is expected to take around 20 months to complete, weather permitting, starting in late 2022.
Meanwhile, review of environmental factors documents for the section from Katoomba to Medlow Bath and Medlow Bath to Blackheath; and the section from Little Hartley to Lithgow are due to be available for exhibition and consultation late this year.
The Medlow Bath Action Group says the highway duplication through its village "will turn the town centre into a five-lane freight corridor wedged between the Hydro Majestic Hotel and the train station, both heritage listed".
And Blackheath Area Community Alliance secretary Michael Paag says if the NSW Government is serious about Central West transport needs, it will investigate extending the tunnel under Medlow Bath as well.
