The one-lane bridge at Broughton Pass provides a direct link from Appin to Picton Road.

After the heavy rains on June 5, the retaining wall at one end collapsed and took a section of the road with it.

Wollondilly Council has since closed the road and its director of infrastructure Michael Malone said “the closure period is likely to be lengthy”.

With the road closed, residents in the Appin area have to take a long route home.

For instance, those coming from the Hume Motorway will have to travel down Picton Road onto the Princes Motorway at Mt Ousley and then along Appin Road from Bulli Tops.

That’s a 54-kilometre trip – up from the usual 11-kilometre run.

It’s no wonder residents have launched an online petition calling for all levels of government to repair the road as quickly as possible.

The petition has close to 2000 signatures.

“Greatly affected are the residents of Appin, Wilton, Bingara Gorge and Douglas Park who use this road for both work and getting children to school and back,” the petition states.

“Wilton has a special needs school and likewise Appin has a special needs preschool leaving young families in dire need.”