A major infrastructure upgrade in the Blue Mountains has reached a significant milestone, with the completion of new lifts at Medlow Bath station and a pedestrian bridge over the Great Western Highway, in New South Wales.
Jointly funded by the Federal and NSW governments, the $176 million Medlow Bath upgrade is part of a broader transport investment that also includes widening 1.2 kilometres of the Great Western Highway to four lanes. The road component is due to be completed later this year.
The centrepiece of the latest works is the 178-tonne pedestrian bridge, built using Australian-made steel and featuring a suspended composite floor designed to reduce slip hazards in icy or snowy conditions.
Pedestrians will no longer have to cross the highway at ground level, significantly improving safety, especially for schoolchildren, families and elderly residents.
“School children, local community members, local businesses and tourists will all benefit from this much safer crossing of the Great Western Highway,” said NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison.
New lifts at Medlow Bath station aim to ensure easier access to public transport for people with disability, older Australians, and parents or carers with prams.
“These new lifts at Medlow Bath station are a game-changer for people with disability, older Australians, parents with prams, and anyone who struggles with stairs,” said Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington.
“Everyone deserves equal access to public transport, and this upgrade makes that a reality.”
The project also includes cultural recognition elements, with a commissioned artwork by local Aboriginal artists and Elders to be installed at the base of the new lift shaft.
The project’s proponents acknowledged the extensive collaboration between Transport for NSW, Blue Mountains City Council, heritage experts and the community in shaping a design that complements the surrounding landscape.
