Early 20th Century Improvements
In 1912 Victoria Pass was superseded by Berghofers Pass, which followed a similar route to Victoria Pass, but below it. It was more winding and thus longer, thereby affording a less steep climb. However rapid improvements in motor vehicle performance meant that in 1920 Victoria Pass was rebuilt to become the main route again.
After the ascent of the eastern escarpment by the Main Western Railway was deviated for the second time in 1913 to its current route via Glenbrook Gorge, the Great Western Road was also deviated at this point for a second time in 1926 by the then Main Roads Board, which rerouted it via the disused 1867 stone arch railway viaduct across Knapsack Gully and around the southern side of Lapstone Hill to gain the first plateau in the ascent of the Blue Mountains.
As this viaduct had held only a single railway track, its deck was widened in 1939 to its present two lane configuration. The viaduct was closed to motor traffic when the M4 motorway was extended west from Russell Street to connect to the Highway at Lapstone in 1994.
West of Knapsack Gully, although now widened to four lanes, the 1926 route of the highway is still in use. It uses a long stretch of the abandoned railway formation – the section from Zig Zag Street to Blaxland station is all located on the original 1867 railway alignment. An indication of the need to divert the railway can be gained from the gradient of the highway as it climbs west from Hare St to Lovett Street.
A number of deviations were built in 1929:
- at Haslems Creek, Lidcombe, to straighten the road and provide a new bridge
- between Warrimoo and Valley Heights, to remove an underpass and an overpass of the railway from the route of the highway
- at Eusdale, Yetholme (in three sections) and Melrose (all west of Meadow Flat), to ease gradients.
In 1930 the level crossing at Bowenfels was replaced by an underpass.
Victoria Pass was upgraded in 1932 to give a constant width of 8.5 m, with a minor deviation built at the foot of the pass.
Read more about this topic: Great Western Highway
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