The NSW Government can today announce two engineering consortia have been shortlisted by Transport for NSW as the Government continues to accelerate the process to safely reopen the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass.
Following an industry briefing and site inspection with 20 Australian and international companies, experts in geotechnical and complex road construction submitted proposals to fix Mitchells Causeway which has been closed since substantial cracking and movement was detected in March.
Transport for NSW has now shortlisted two consortia led by experienced construction firms Seymour Whyte and Gamuda.
Both proposals are being assessed and developed side-by-side over the next four weeks to determine the safest and fastest solution to reopen the road.
Examining both options in parallel will allow the Government to move faster towards selecting a consortium and starting major construction. Early preparation works are already underway on site to enable construction to begin as soon as the engineering solution is confirmed.
The closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass will extend beyond June and the Government will provide an updated timeframe once a consortium is appointed.
Transport for NSW is also examining the potential for staged approaches that could allow limited access on the Great Western Highway through Victoria Pass while the road is being repaired.
These options will be worked through by Transport for NSW with the two consortia, and any interim access arrangement would need to be safe and not delay the full reinstatement of the Causeway.
The Government acknowledges the closure has been challenging for communities across the Blue Mountains and Central West who have been most affected by the closure and ongoing detours.
However, expert advice remains clear that the cracking and structural movement at Mitchells Causeway is serious and ongoing. The road is currently not safe for traffic and will not reopen until engineers are confident the public is not at risk.
The NSW Government has committed $50 million towards improving the safety and resilience of key detour routes through the Blue Mountains and Central West. More than $15 million worth of work has already been completed.
Public transport uplifts introduced earlier this year will continue for the duration of the closure, with NSW TrainLink's free turn-up-and-go coach services remaining in place during the closure. These services are being well used by more than 300 passengers each week.
The Great Western Highway Community Coordination Taskforce has been meeting weekly with local councils, industry, businesses and community stakeholders and the Small Business Commission has been engaging directly with individual businesses. The government is also continuing to explore additional support for impacted businesses.
The NSW Government has also provided $15,000 in funding to Blue Mountains City Council, Lithgow City Council and Bathurst City Council to support tourism to the region while the closure remains in place.
Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:
"We don't underestimate the impact this closure is having on people's daily lives.
"But we will not gamble with safety and reopen Mitchells Causeway before we can guarantee it is safe. Safety must come first, and that will always guide our decisions.
"This is a unique process that is moving at a pace and scale unlike anything Transport has undertaken before.
"Rather than working through one option at a time, shortlisted solutions are being developed in parallel so we can determine which approach can deliver the best outcome for the community, sooner.
"We are throwing everything we can at this - accelerating the process, investing in detour routes and uplifting public transport to support communities while this critical work is carried out."
"As we have always said, once we have appointed a contractor we will be in a position to update the community with a new timeline to reopen the road."
Transport for NSW Secretary, Josh Murray:
"We've seen a strong response from industry and we have now selected two partners to develop solutions in parallel before announcing a final option and delivery partner who will undertake the restoration work.
"Our focus is on delivering a solution that is fast, safe, durable and resilient for the long term.
"At the same time, we're getting on with critical early work on-site and continuing to improve detour routes to keep people moving as safely as possible.
"We understand the community wants certainty and we're working as quickly as possible to confirm a final solution and get construction underway."
Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle said:
"Since the day of this closure, the Blue Mountain's community have called for clear and honest information around what happens next, after critical engineering data has been collected. Once we have shortlisted the final consortium we will be able to provide that clarity on timeframe."
"The reality is the damage at Mitchells Causeway is serious, and reopening before it is safe to do so is simply not an option.
"What matters now is that we are making progress. Two engineering solutions have now been shortlisted, work is already underway on site, and the Government is moving as quickly as possible to safely restore this vital route.
"I want to thank my community for the patience, resilience and care they've shown over the past two months. I encourage people to continue driving safely on the detour routes, use the extra public transport services in place, support local businesses and look out for each other."
