Initial planning is underway for $100 million in safety and resilience upgrades to the Bells Line of Road.
The project, funded by the Australian Government, focuses on improving safety along this critical east-west corridor through the Blue Mountains, connecting Lithgow and the Hawkesbury.
Civil Consulting and Highway Design (CCHD) will lead the investigative phase, including traffic and condition assessments, risk analysis, and alignment with existing corridor studies.
Preliminary upgrade options under consideration include the construction of new overtaking lanes, realignment of hazardous curves, installation of safety barriers, and intersection reconfigurations.
The corridor has experienced increasing traffic volumes, particularly from tourism and freight, while also facing closures from extreme weather events such as bushfires and landslips.
“The road is very vulnerable to closures from bushfires and landslips, which result in delays for motorists and makes it difficult to manage traffic during incidents. It also has a crash rate higher than other similar NSW roads,” said NSW Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison.
Transport for NSW will lead targeted engagement with local councils and stakeholders to ensure options reflect both technical priorities and community needs. Broader public consultation on shortlisted projects is scheduled for late 2025.
“The Bells Line of Road is a key link between Lithgow and the Hawkesbury, through the north of the Blue Mountains. As local tourism businesses in Bilpin and surrounding regions boom, the road is getting busier and ensuring it has the necessary safety and resilience improvements is essential,” said Federal Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King.
Transport for NSW says it will integrate existing planning insights and recent engagement outcomes into this next phase of work.
“Through bushfires, storms and floods, we’ve seen just how vital the Bells Line of Road is for locals, including the businesses who rely on customers being able to reach them,” Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman said.
