The closure of the westbound slow lane of the Great Western Highway down Victoria Pass has been a thorn in the side of heavy vehicle operators for almost three years. Now, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the section reopening.
Transport for NSW has announced works to rehabilitate the two Victoria Pass slops that were damaged during heavy rain in July 2022 will commence next month following extended investigation, planning and design work.
The storm that caused the damage to the slopes was so severe that it was eventually declared a natural disaster.
Initial investigations at the site confirmed the repairs would be incredibly complex, and extensive studies including LiDAR, geotechnical investigations and field surveys have informed the final design.
TfNSW has also worked closely with Heritage NSW to minimise impacts on the heritage-listed corridor.
“We’re pleased to see work get underway to repair the damaged slopes and eventually allow a return to two-lane traffic,” Transport for NSW Acting Regional Director West Holly Davies says.
“We appreciate the patience of motorists who travel this highway every day. Right from the start we were committed to get this fix right to ensure Victoria Pass can better withstand future heavy rain events.”
The call for tenders for the project was put out in October 2024, and Davies has confirmed McIlwain has bene awarded the contract to carry out the repair work.
The works are expected to commence on April 1 and will largely be carried out overnight to limit disruption to traffic.
Plans are for work to be undertaken between 8pm and 5am from Monday to Thursday, and 7pm to 5am on Sundays weather permitting.
Several full road closures will be required at night in April with all traffic detoured.
Confirmed dates for full closures include April 1-3, April 6-10, April 14-16, April 22-23 and April 28-29. Closures will add roughly 15 minutes of travel time due to detours.
Repair on the upslope failure will include replacing and extending drape mesh to bind the slope, installing a shotcrete chute and rock bolting, and rockfall fencing to protect motorists.
Downslope repairs will include installing roughly 300 soil nails across the embankment slope along with mock-rock shotcrete.
Repairs are expected to take up to nine months to complete, weather permitting, and will include culvert works to improve drainage.