Jenolan Caves Road will reopen for Caves House patrons and Jenolan Caves ticket holders later today, almost six weeks after a landslip in heavy rain closed the road.
Deputy Premier and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said crews had worked around the clock to remove more than 100 tonnes of debris from the Two Mile section of Jenolan Caves Road to restore access to the tourist precinct from 4pm today.
“It has been a mammoth task for Transport for NSW crews working in challenging conditions with the steep terrain, overturned trees and dangerous overhanging limbs,” Mr Toole said.
“They have installed about 300 metres of traffic separation devices between the Caves House precinct entrance and the upper visitor car park that will strengthen the slope to allow the safe passage of patrons and essential maintenance staff.
“Reopening the road for people with Caves House bookings or managed caves tour bookings is a huge win for tourism operators.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said crews would remain on-site to continue working towards opening Jenolan Caves Road to all traffic.
“Transport has identified a number of active downslope failures along the Two Mile, totalling about 300 metres,” Mr Farraway said.
“Transport is developing slope stabilisation treatments to remediate these failures and specialist contractors will be engaged to carry out the work.
“July’s deluge also triggered a 75-metre downslope failure immediately west of Burma Road and immediately above the upper visitor car park, and Transport has engaged specialist technical consultants to develop geotechnical and civil design treatments for this failure.”
Additional traffic management measures will be in place during the day for the Jenolan Caves reopening from Friday 12 August. The road will remain closed after hours.
Single direction travel will be managed by hard road closures and a staffed escort vehicle between the precinct entrance and the upper visitor car park during hours of operation.
Patrons are requested to follow all road signage and directions of traffic control.
For the latest traffic updates, download the Live Traffic NSW app and visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.