Further defects identified on the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass have resulted in a full closure of the road.
Crews have been working around the clock carrying out thorough geotechnical assessments at Mitchell’s Causeway, also known as the Convict Bridge, after a defect was identified last Thursday on the eastbound lane.
Overnight, cracks were identified in the pavement of the westbound lane and geotechnical monitoring confirmed movement of the road’s sub structure.
This means both lanes are now closed between Lithgow and Mount Victoria until further notice, with diversions in place.
Transport for NSW Deputy Secretary Road Maintenance and Resilience Matt Fuller said safety is the priority.
“Following the information received in the early hours of this morning, we have closed both lanes of the highway to ensure safety for the travelling public,” Mr Fuller said.
“This is an evolving and complex situation and we have no timeline for when we will be safely able to reopen the highway.”
“We thank the community for its continued patience, while we undertake this critical work and acknowledge the frustration of the community and road users, including the freight industry.”
Traffic on the Great Western Highway is being diverted at Lithgow to travel along Main Street, Chifley Road and the Darling Causeway before rejoining the highway at Mount Victoria.
Heavy vehicle operators are advised that the detour along Main Street, Chifley Road and the Darling Causeway is suitable for general access vehicles and Performance Based Standards (PBS) Level 1 heavy vehicles up to 20 metres long, but restricted access heavy vehicle operators who are unable to travel on an approved Notice Network are advised to delay their journeys.
School buses are being diverted away from the area.
Restricted access heavy vehicle operators who are unable to travel on a Notice Network and cannot delay their travel have been advised to contact the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to request an amended permit.
Details of the detours for general traffic and heavy vehicles are available at LiveTraffic.com and Transport for NSW will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.
Over the weekend there were no major traffic issues due to the eastbound lane closure and resulting detours.
Road users can view the incident details at https://www.livetraffic.com/incident-details/267022 and, if using the LiveTraffic app on a smart device, can select the incident and click ’follow’ to receive a notification every time the incident is updated with new information.