It's only 150 metres of road, but the closure of a small stretch of a major highway is halting construction supplies during a housing squeeze, delaying health care and potentially turning the political tide.
The Great Western Highway, a vital link between western NSW and Sydney, has been closed at Victoria Pass for more than 100 days after cracks were found in a convict-era causeway.
While a detour to the rest of the Blue Mountains highway and another scenic route are open, the closure is having widespread consequences.
Wide load trucks cannot drive on either available route, forcing house frame manufacturer Westruss to cut off its supply to western Sydney housing developments.
The multi-generational business, which helped the 2000 Olympics build, has laid-off staff and is set to lose about $6 million in annual revenue.
