The NSW and Australian Governments funded an investigation into the feasibility of upgrading the Bells Line of Road, between Lithgow and north western Sydney. The RTA, in partnership with the Federal Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS), managed the study.
A report prepared in November 2005 by the NSW and Australian governments showed a $3 billion (in 2004 dollars) four-lane motorway for Bells Line of Road was not justified.
The report found that while the proposed road was viable from an engineering perspective, it was not justified on economic, social or environmental grounds.
Environmental and heritage concerns related to the work would impact on national parks and World Heritage-listed wilderness areas. The impacts that would result from constructing a road mean the upgrade is not financially feasible.
The Great Western Highway is already the more developed road and is part of the AusLink route between Sydney and Dubbo.
Bells Line of Road corridor study
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