New bridge announced but Great Western Highway closed for another year

New bridge at Victoria Pass to link Sydney with western NSW Fri 26 Jun 2026 at 8:17am A new bridge will be built at Mitchell's Causeway on the Great Western Highway to link Sydney and the state's central west. The New South Wales government has announced construction is expected to start in the next few weeks, with the road expected to reopen this time next year. The new bridge will be built over the existing 200-year-old structure. The road at Little Hartley, just past Lithgow, has been closed since March due to instability, leading to long diversions for trucks and commuters and affecting visitation to businesses. "The new crossing will be located, as we've thought, on the same alignment, supported by deep piles anchored into the bedrock," NSW Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said in an interview with the ABC this morning. "The bridge will be constructed above the existing causeway, which will enable [it] to be stabilised and preserved and also allow for a future additional lane." Support for businesses The state government also announced an additional $20 million to increase the financial support available for affected small businesses. Grants will range from from $10,000 to $25,000 The move comes after the government released a $3.5 million support package to "buffer" businesses and councils from the financial impacts of the closure earlier this month. The support has been available to small businesses experiencing financial hardship in Mount Victoria, Hartley, Little Hartley and Hartley Vale. The scheme has now been expanded to eligible businesses in a wider area, including Lithgow, Oberon and Blackheath. Construction to begin in July The state government announced Seymour Whyte had been selected to construct the new crossing after an accelerated procurement process. Transport for NSW received 10 submissions from engineering firms vying to replace the convict-built bridge.