To improve road safety and minimise the chance of accidents occurring, Council is installing street lights and supporting infrastructure on Old Bathurst Rd, between Binya Street (at the top of the bends) and the water tower (at the bottom).
The following traffic changes will occur to allow this important upgrade work to take place as quickly and safely as possible:
- One lane will be closed at Old Bathurst Road, East Blaxland, between Binya Street and the water tower on Friday 17 June between the hours of 10am and 2pm. This is to allow necessary roadway investigation and survey work to be done.
- For a period of ten business days during the school holidays, from Monday 4 July to Friday 15 July, this section of Old Bathurst Road will be closed for nightworks to enable new lighting poles to be quickly and safely installed.
In the last five years, seven crashes have occurred at this location and all of these happened at dusk, night or early morning hours. Over the years, Council has also received significant feedback from residents and visitors requesting the installation of street lights on this section of Old Bathurst Road due to safety concerns.
Council has received funding specifically for this upgrade through the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. The money cannot be used for other activities.
Blue Mountains Mayor, Councillor Mark Greenhill, said: “Installing new street lighting on this steep and difficult stretch of road will significantly boost visibility. This is a fundamental improvement that’s been in the pipeline for some time to make the road safer for all users.
“We appreciate that this is a busy road and any works may be inconvenient for residents who use Old Bathurst Road to access Emu Plains, Penrith and beyond. That’s why we’ve scheduled the work to happen at nights, to reduce the impact as much as possible,” Mayor Greenhill said.
Following the road closure, it is likely one lane may need to be closed for two days to install the light pole lamps. The community will be kept informed as details are confirmed.
Find out more about the Old Bathurst Road Lighting Upgrade.
Photo: Old Bathurst Road, near Binya Street, East Blaxland.
