Bells Line of Road: Difference between revisions
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The '''Bells Line of Road''' (State Route 40) is a major road in [[New South Wales]] and runs from North Richmond on the North-Western outskirts of Sydney to Bell in the [[Blue Mountains (Australia)|Blue Mountains]] where it becomes Chifley Road. |
The '''Bells Line of Road''' (State Route 40) is a major road in [[New South Wales]] and runs from North Richmond on the North-Western outskirts of Sydney to Bell in the [[Blue Mountains (Australia)|Blue Mountains]] where it becomes Chifley Road. |
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The route was discovered in 1823 by [[Archibald Bell Jr]] but was rarely used until World War II. The road was improved between 1939 and 1949 as it was seen by the government as being an alternative to the [[Great Western Highway]] and could be used for war efforts. |
The route known as '''Bell's Line''' (thus, "Bell's Line Off-Road" which became, over time, "Bell's Line of Road") was discovered in 1823 by [[Archibald Bell Jr]] but was rarely used until World War II. The road was improved between 1939 and 1949 as it was seen by the government as being an alternative to the [[Great Western Highway]] and could be used for war efforts. |
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Today, the route is still used as an alternate route across the Blue Mountains and is also a popular tourist drive. |
Today, the route is still used as an alternate route across the Blue Mountains and is also a popular tourist drive. |
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Revision as of 02:10, 30 July 2009
Bells Line of Road | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Error: |type= not defined (help) |
| Length | 89 km (55 mi) |
| Location(s) | |
| via | Clarence, Bell, Berambing, Bilpin, Kurrajong Heights, Kurmond, Richmond |
The Bells Line of Road (State Route 40) is a major road in New South Wales and runs from North Richmond on the North-Western outskirts of Sydney to Bell in the Blue Mountains where it becomes Chifley Road.
The route known as Bell's Line (thus, "Bell's Line Off-Road" which became, over time, "Bell's Line of Road") was discovered in 1823 by Archibald Bell Jr but was rarely used until World War II. The road was improved between 1939 and 1949 as it was seen by the government as being an alternative to the Great Western Highway and could be used for war efforts.
Today, the route is still used as an alternate route across the Blue Mountains and is also a popular tourist drive.
Lowered speed limits
In November 2007, the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) announced plans to lower the speed limits along much of Bells Line of Road. Within a week, sufficient opposition was expressed that the changes were put on hold.[1] In October 2008, the same changes were again announced, with the RTA claiming that there had been community consultation, but numerous users of the road, including politicians and councillors based west of the Blue Mountains, claimed to have been unaware of any consultation.[2][3] As a result of the changes, the maximum speed limit east of Bell is now 80 km/h and the time taken to traverse the route has increased by approximately 30 minutes.[4]
Future
For many years road lobby groups have been pushing for what they call a "superhighway" across the Blue Mountains. They claim that the poor roads leading to the Central West of New South Wales are impeding growth. For many years the Great Western Highway was the preferred route, but after studies found that a freeway would be too expensive to build along this route the idea was abandoned.
In 2002, road lobby groups secured $2 million in funding for a feasibility study into building a freeway following the Bells Line of Road. The proposed freeway would have linked to the M2 in Sydney and dropped into the Central West via Newnes Plateau. The study report, published in November 2004 concluded that, while feasible to build from an engineering perspective, it would not be economically feasible and would have massive impact on adjacent National Parks and local communities.[5]
Alternate Routes
The next trafficable road north of Bells Line of Road that crosses the Blue Mountains is the Bylong Valley Way, which forms a more direct route between the Central West region and the Hunter Region including the port of Newcastle.
References
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/13/2088932.htm RTA puts Bells Line speed limit changes on hold - ABC news, 13 Nov 2007
- ^ http://lithgow.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/second-attempt-at-speed-zones/1332629.aspx Second attempt at speed zones - Lithgow Mercury, 14 Oct 2008
- ^ http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20081022042 Bells Line of Road Speed Limit - Mr Russell Turner, NSW Hansard, 22 Oct 2008
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bells-line-80kmh-limit-ludicrous/2008/11/01/1224956401462.html Bells Line 80kmh limit 'ludicrous' - Sydney Morning Herald, 2 Nov 2008
- ^ http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/majorconstructionprojectsregional/western/blor_corridor_study.html Bells Line of Road Corridor Study
