Blue Mountains' beleaguered road cyclists are relieved by $2 million plans from Transport for NSW to improve their safety on a narrow highway corridor between Faulconbridge and Linden.
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Transport for NSW director Alistair Lunn said development work on a two metre sealed shoulder and other safety features will start in July.
"Following the recent announcement of federal government stimulus funding for three road safety projects in the Blue Mountains, Transport for NSW is commencing planning work to improve safety for cyclists and other road users traveling along the Great Western Highway between Faulconbridge and Linden," Mr Lunn said.
"Federal government funding of $2 million for this work will include relocation and upgrade of the roadside barrier, and widening of the westbound shoulder to provide a two metre sealed shoulder in order to provide a safe and consistent road shoulder for all road users."
Blue Mountains Cycling Safety Forum (BMCSF) president David Tritton said their group had been campaigning since 2017 to widen road shoulders in the area to protect vulnerable road users and "welcomed the announcement".
"Data from TfNSW's Centre for Road Safety indicates there have been 18 crashes between 2015-19 involving 20 injuries, including ten serious [injuries] on the highway within a 500 metre radius of Bellevue Road," he said.
"The proposed works involves relocating the roadside barrier and widening the westbound shoulder (west of the Metro Petroleum at Faulconbridge) to provide a two metre sealed shoulder."
Mr Tritton said the most dangerous pinch point between Weemalla Ave and Bellevue Road (with an 80km speed limit west bound) includes a blind corner after the Metro Petroleum with a road shoulder of less than 30cm between the fog line and roadside barrier.
"The consequence being that cyclists must use the traffic lane, placing them in harm's way. "
The widening of the shoulder would protect all vulnerable road users, including broken down motorists, he said..
"Significantly, it also supports a safer road system. An Austroads study in 2014 found that sealed shoulders, roadside barriers and centre line wire rope safety barriers would have provided protection from the consequences of driver errors occurring in 63 per cent of crashes in the study."
Mr Lunn said Transport for NSW had formed a good working relationship with the Blue Mountains Cycling Safety Forum during early consultations on the highway upgrade and would continue to meet them "to ensure the best outcomes for all our active transport users".
The BMCSF said they were looking forward to working with TfNSW to plan the full highway upgrade between Faulconbridge and Linden, including investigating options for an off road cycle path as part of any major civil works project.
Development work for the project will start in July with road work scheduled to begin in early 2022.
