Another major highway hit with speed limit reduction

A key section of the Great Western Highway through the Blue Mountains will soon have a lower speed limit, making it the latest regional route in New South Wales to be targeted as part of a broader road safety push.

Transport for NSW has confirmed that an 8.1-kilometre stretch of highway between Faulconbridge and Linden will be reduced from 80km/h to 70km/h from July 23. The route currently includes an eastbound section already restricted to 60km/h for trucks and buses.

The change follows community concerns about the number of crashes recorded on the section, particularly during wet weather. The Great Western Highway is one of the state’s most important regional transport corridors, connecting Sydney with communities throughout the Central West and passing through a number of Blue Mountains towns and villages.

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Transport for NSW Executive Director Damien Pfeiffer said the revised limit better reflected the characteristics of the road.

“The new speed limit will better match the access density, crash history and risk profile of this section of the Great Western Highway,” he said.

According to Transport for NSW, feedback from local residents also highlighted concerns about limited shoulders for cyclists, restricted sight lines and congestion around intersections.

The new limit comes just weeks after another controversial speed reduction on the Mitchell Highway between Dubbo and Wellington. From June 22, two sections of that highway were cut from 110km/h to 100km/h following a safety review.

Authorities said the Mitchell Highway changes were prompted by a crash history that included 38 crashes, 38 injuries and five fatalities over a five-year period. Transport for NSW estimated the lower speed limit could reduce fatalities by around 27 per cent and serious injuries by 21 per cent.

However, the move attracted criticism from local communities and regional politicians, who argued that road upgrades would deliver greater safety benefits than lower speed limits.

The debate reflects a broader discussion taking place across Australia as road authorities examine speed limits on regional roads that were designed to standards well below those expected of modern highways.

Supporters of lower limits argue they reduce crash severity and save lives. Critics counter that governments should focus on improving road infrastructure, adding overtaking lanes and upgrading surfaces rather than relying on speed reductions.

New signage and line-marking for the Great Western Highway changes will be installed ahead of the July rollout.