Great Western Highway Repair: 2-Month Detour, Expert Fix

0:00A critical stretch of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass in the Blue Mountains has been closed since March 12th. Engineers found serious cracks and ground shifts and a stone causeway built by convicts almost 200 years ago. Up to 12,000 vehicles used this route daily before the shutdown. Recent geotechnical tests confirm the bedrock underneath is solid. The problem lies in the deteriorated stone fill between the sandstone walls, creating voids and gaps. This good news means repairs can happen right on the existing alignment, dodging the need for a pricier new route, like a tunnel. Drivers now face a 25-minute detour via Darling Causeway and Chiffley Road, burning extra fuel amid high prices from global tensions. Local businesses reliant on passing traffic are hurting financially with no clear aid package yet from the state. Road's Minister Jenny Husson says it's a complicated rebuild, definitely longer than three months, but they're pulling in top experts for the best.

1:02Fixed to reopen fast. Meanwhile, Mount Wilson Road shut down April 3 after bad weather, with hopes for a two-month repair. The government's laser focused on getting this key artery back online, while sorting support for affected spots in the blue mountains and beyond. That wrap Sydney News today, brought to you with AI.