SUSAN TEMPLEMAN
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MACQUARIE

KATE WASHINGTON
NSW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
MINISTER FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION

JENNY AITCHISON
NSW MINISTER FOR ROADS
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORT

MEDIA RELEASE - NEW LIFTS AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE BOOST SAFETY, ACCESS IN MEDLOW BATH

The Albanese and Minns Labor governments are improving community safety and access to public transport in the Blue Mountains with new lifts, station accessibility improvements and a new pedestrian bridge across the Great Western Highway now officially opened.

Delivered thanks to more than $176 million in funding from both governments, the Medlow Bath station accessibility improvements and new pedestrian bridge are part of a major upgrade project which will also see 1.2 kilometres of the Great Western Highway widened to four lanes.

Weighing 178 tonnes, the pedestrian bridge includes — for the first time — a special suspended composite material floor to reduce the risk of slipping after snowfall or on icy mornings.

Built with Australian-made steel, the bridge will provide a much safer connection for community members travelling between Medlow Bath station and the town centre as they will no longer need to walk across the highway.

In another major improvement for access and safety, the new lifts at Medlow Bath station will greatly improve access to transport for people with disability, limited mobility and parents and carers with prams.

These upgrades, along with the highway widening, will significantly improve road and transport infrastructure in Medlow Bath.

The final major part of the Medlow Bath upgrade project will involve completion of construction of the widened highway which is expected to open to traffic later this year.

Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington said:

“These new lifts at Medlow Bath station are a game-changer for people with disability, older Australians, parents with prams, and anyone who struggles with stairs. Everyone deserves equal access to public transport, and this upgrade makes that a reality.

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to improving accessibility across our transport network, ensuring that no one is left behind when it comes to essential services.

“This is an important upgrade for the Blue Mountains community, ensuring that everyone—regardless of mobility—can move around safely and with dignity.”

Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:

“School children, local community members, local businesses and tourists will all benefit from this much safer crossing of the Great Western Highway.

“In addition to the important road safety benefits the bridge brings, the Minns Labor Government is proud to be delivering improved access with two new lifts set to improve access for people with disability and reduced mobility.

“I thank community members for their patience while this work has been undertaken.”

Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman said:

“The Albanese Labor Government is pleased to be partnering with the Minns Labor Government to make roads and transport infrastructure safer in the Blue Mountains.

“I know there has been many hours of engagement with Transport for NSW by the community, heritage architects, Heritage NSW and Blue Mountains City Council to get the best possible outcome with a bridge that is more sympathetic to the Medlow Bath landscape than the standard designs.”

State Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle said:

“It’s great to see accessibility and safety improvements being delivered in Medlow Bath.

“I am also delighted to see Transport is also working with local Aboriginal artists and Elders to commission a cultural interpretation artwork that will feature at the base of the new bridge lift shaft, welcoming people to Medlow Bath and celebrating the Aboriginal heritage of the area.”