The NSW Government has today announced speed limits will be changed on the Castlereagh Highway through Cullen Bullen to deliver better trips for all road users.
Transport for NSW conducted a speed zone review on the Castlereagh Highway from 1.2 kilometres south of Carsons Siding Road to 1.2 kilometres north of Carsons Siding Road following a request from a member of the public.
Transport for NSW A/ Director West, Holly Davies said the review assessed a number of factors including location, crash history, road environment, the number of access points, road usage, traffic mix and traffic volumes, and recommended changed speed limits.
“The existing 50 km/h urban speed limit was extended south of Cullen Bullen over 15 years ago to provide safer movement of mining trucks entering and leaving the Castlereagh Highway,” said Ms Davies.
“Mines in this area have not been in operation for several years so decreasing the length of the existing 50 km/h speed zone will improve the road’s efficiency and speed limit compliance when motorists enter the town of Cullen Bullen.”
As a result of the review, the following speed changes will come into effect from Monday 3 March:
- The existing 50 km/h speed zone from 1.2 kilometres south of Carsons Siding Road to 600 metres south of Carsons Siding Road will be increased to 80 km/h;
- The existing 50 km/h speed zone 600 metres south of Carsons Siding Road to 450 metres north of Carsons Siding Road will be retained;
- The existing 50 km/h speed zone from 450 metres north of Carsons Siding Road to 650 metres north of Carsons Siding Road will be increased to 80 km/h;
- The existing 80 km/h speed zone from 650 metres north of Carsons Siding Road to 1.2 kilometres north of Carsons Siding Road will be retained.
To support the changes, town entry signage will be installed at each 50 km/h gateway into Cullen Bullen and new road signage will be installed to advise motorists of the speed limits.
Ms Davies said town entry signage is a speed management tool to enhance an existing speed zone change at a town entry and consists of signs, road marking and lane narrowing to create a visual difference in the road environment.
“The signage influences safer driving speeds and provides a clear definition of an urban area to all road users,” she said.
Lithgow City Council and local police have been consulted as part of the review and are supportive of the changes.
From Monday 10 February, work to support the changes will be carried out on two 500-metre sections of the highway, at the northern and southern entries to Cullen Bullen.
The work is expected to take 10 days to complete, weather permitting, and will be carried out between 7am and 5pm on weekdays.