This section of the BANC website has been created to provide members and the general community information about what is being done to manage the challenges created by the closure of Victoria Pass due to major risks with safety at the convict built bridge section.
Victoria Pass Closure Local Coordinating Committee
The Committee was established to provide direct advice to Trish Doyle Member for Blue Mountains from community and business organisations in the Blackheath, Mt Victoria and Hartley Valley areas re social, economic and environmental impacts on these areas of the Victoria Pass closure and to suggest remedial actions to the NSW Government and its Taskforce. Click here to see areas of concern.
Situation Report as at 16 April 2026
Transport for NSW is providing regular report of activities associated with the closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass.
A Great Western Highway Community Coordination Taskforce has also been established, that includes other Government agencies and Local Councils.
This report is also provided to the taskforce, who will incorporate the information within their broader multi-agency updates.
These updates are provided twice weekly or following any significant change to the current situation.
Please click here to read the situation report for 16 April 2026.
Update 1
On Monday 16 March, an Action Plan prepared by several Blackheath and Mt Victoria based organisations was presented to Trish Doyle MP for Blue Mountains and Susan Templeman MP for Macquarie.
● Financial rescue package for directly impacted businesses and financial support for impacted staff
● The new school bus timetable announced on Friday 13 March 2026 is not working with some students now facing 4 hour journey times to get to and from school – We need more direct bus services b/w MVPS and Hartley/La Salle Academy, and more support for local schools, students and parents who are affected by the ongoing disruptions
● Free coach service between Bathurst, Lithgow, Mount Victoria and Katoomba – add Blackheath as a stop
● 1/2 hour shuttle train service between Lithgow and Katoomba with a connecting shuttle bus service to Little Hartley via Lithgow Hospital
● Extra XPT & Bathurst bullet train services
● Temporary suspension of paid parking in Blackheath (BMCC to be reimbursed by the NSW Govt)
● Coordinated and targeted visitation promotion for Blackheath, Megalong, Mount Victoria and Little Hartley
● Promote Lithgow Main Street shopping precinct, Blackheath and Mount Victoria as places to stop and recharge on the extended journey
● Either run trucks across the Blue Mountains in set hours like during the Sydney Olympics or divert some of them to the Hume/Golden to take pressure off
● Support Telehealth and at home doctor’s visits so vulnerable people don’t have to drive and travel
● Extra data analytics for local councils to support evidence based requests for ongoing community and business support as needed
● Allow employees to work from home where practicable to reduce traffic movements
● Financial support for local services such as O0SH and other children’s services, NDIS supports and community aged care and mental health services where clients are struggling to access these services
● Work with BMCC & LCC to investigate better access for residents in postcodes 2785/2786 to Hartley Vale Road and investigate road connection between the three valleys for alternate access for local residents only
Update 2
New Public Transport Connections
The local organisations, led by the Blackheath Chamber of Commerce and working alongside the Blackheath Alliance, BANC, and the Mount Victoria Commuity Association have been successful to date. With the support of Trish Doyle MP , they have achieved the following new public transport connections, which are in response to the closure of Victoria Pass:
- There will be an extra 10 train services that will be extended to operate from Lithgow, providing an hourly service between Lithgow, Mount Victoria, Blackheath, Medlow Bath and Katoomba throughout most of the day.
- There will also now be 7 daily return train services between Lithgow and Bathurst.
- The Free Coach Service between Bathurst – Lithgow – Mount Victoria – Katoomba now includes a stop at Blackheath.
Victoria Pass Closure Local Impact Committee Update
A local Victoria Pass Closure Local Impact Committee has been formed and met for the first time on Monday 30 March.
This Committee is designed to coordinate views from the local communities of Blackheath, Mt Victoria and Little Hartley and provides advice to the main cross Government and sectors Taskforce established by the NSW Government a few weeks ago.
The Committee’s membership is:
- Michael Paag, Blackheath and District Chamber of Commerce
- Shane McLucas, Mt Victoria Business Association
- Simon Davies, Mt Victoria Community Association
- Eva Johnstone, Blackheath Area Community Alliance
- Ramsay Moodie, Hartley District Progress Association
- Gary Moore, Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre
The Committee has endorsed a series of actions divided into the areas of Transport, Visitation and Promotion, Health and Community Services, Business and Government that are being put to the Taskforce and Government Ministers and Agencies for consideration in relation to all the impacts of the Victoria Pass road closure. These actions are both major and minor, but all aimed at alleviating as much as possible the negative impacts being experienced by local businesses and communities at present.
The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Thursday 9 April
| Situation Report as at 1 April 2026 |
The following information provides an update of the Transport for NSW (Transport) activities. A Great Western Highway Community Coordination Taskforce has also been established, that includes other Government agencies and Local Councils.
This report is also provided to the taskforce, who will incorporate the information within their broader multi-agency updates.
These updates will be provided twice weekly (minimum) or following any significant change to the current situation.
Subscribers to this distribution list will also receive all media releases issued in relation to works and the current closure
ROADS
• An incident occurred on Chifley Road in Lithgow yesterday (Mon 30 March), when a single vehicle hit a power pole, causing a road blockage.
• Crews on site cleared the road and returned traffic flow in 30 minutes.
• Transport is reviewing the incident for any lessons learnt to identify opportunities to further improve response times.
• Outside of incidents, travel times continue to remain consistent within the detour route.
• The detour adds around 25 minutes to travel times between Lithgow and Katoomba.
• Drivers should expect heavier traffic and delays on all detour routes, particularly during peak periods and on weekends.
• Transport crews have provided 58 tows to assist heavy vehicle drivers up the steep scenic hill, and to clear traffic incidents.
ROADWORK
• Geotechnical experts are now analysing data gathered on Mitchell’s Causeway. Transport will demobilise geotechnical drilling equipment on the Causeway this week.
• Transport has been carrying out heavy patching work during nights on the Darling Causeway, and will finish on Wednesday evening/Thursday morning.
• Crews will cease general work over Easter break, and return on the evening of Monday 6 April. However crews will be on standby for any urgent maintenance and response over the break and will manage their work to minimise disruption to travellers.
• Works completed on nightshift Monday 30 March: 190t of asphalt laid, two signs installed.
• Works completed on nightshift Friday 27 March: six signs installed, 60 linear meters of linemarking installed.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
• NSW TrainLink has 2 fully accessible coaches running 13 temporary, free turn-up-and-go services daily between Bathurst and Katoomba. These free services will travel in both directions and stop at Katoomba, Blackheath, Mt Victoria, Lithgow and Bathurst train stations.
• Sydney Trains is running additional train services to and from the Blue Mountains to support travelling to and from the region.
Blue Mountains: 10 Mariyung services have been extended to operate from Lithgow, providing an hourly service between Lithgow, Mount Victoria and Katoomba across the day.
Bathurst: 6 extra services in addition to the standard timetable are operating between Bathurst and Lithgow.
Two direct Sydney service “Bathurst Bullet” are running at the key commuter times of 7:40am (Bathurst to Sydney) and 5:42pm (Sydney to Bathurst).
All other services require interchange at Lithgow with Mariyung services for travel to and from Sydney.
FREIGHT
• The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has published the National Heavy Vehicle New South Wales Great Western Highway Road Closure at Victoria Pass Work and Rest Hours Exemption 2026 (No.1), which temporarily increases allowable fatigue hours, with safeguards in place, to support freight detours. Click here to view the conditions of the exemption
MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION
• The Victoria Pass webpage www.transport.nsw.gov.au/gwhvp is receiving regular updates with news and information as it becomes available. The site will be updated today, Tuesday 31 March.
• Community information on free resources available to community and businesses is now available here on the Victoria Page website.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
• Transport has met with Blue Mountains City Council and Lithgow City Council to discuss the detour and local impacts.
• Transport officers are continuing to meet with schools and transport providers to find ways to lessen impacts on school students requiring to travel the detour to get to school.
• Transport officers are meeting with Lithgow City Council 1 April to examine local transport issues and identify ways in which we can assist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try this page for some quick answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about the closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass.
Victoria Pass Frequently Asked Questions.
Stay up to date
For day to day updates about changes to works on the Darling Causeway and Chifley Road, subscribe to our Traffic Control Centres for SMS alerts.
For real time traffic updates, follow the incident on the Live Traffic website.
Thank you for your patience as we complete these critical road repairs.
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding these works or other projects in the Blue Mountains, please call 1800 953 777, and select option 4, or email us at .
Transport for NSW
P 1800 953 777 (Option 4)
E
M 51-55 Currajong Street, Parkes NSW 2870
For languages other than English, please call 131 450.