Last week one of the region’s most frequently used roads was voted the worst in the Illawarra and the fourth worst in the state.

Almost 12,000 voters took to the internet for NRMA’s Seeing Red On Roads survey which reeled in a staggering one-third voting the Princes Highway as the worst in the state. 

Congestion, not enough lanes and too many lights were the biggest problems, however local businesses along the strip told the Lake Times losing your car door was a common occurance.

Albion Park Cakes owner Trish Swan said vehicle doors were swiped off their hinges as frequently as three times a month. “It’s happened so many times,” she said.

“It’s so dangerous, there isn’t enough space for parking out the front and people don’t seem to be aware of the parking out the back.”

NRMA local Director Michael Tynan highlighted the area from the Illawarra Highway roundabout to Albion Park Rail station as being the worst due to slow moving traffic, several lights and said the road was in “desperate need” of an upgrade to ensure continuity of speed and safety.

Employee of the pizza shop, Evan Lane said speeding was a constant issue with motorists having to follow three different speed limits from Yallah to McDonalds.

“It’s meant to be 60 along here (shopfront) but people are going a lot faster than that, so maybe a speed camera would help,” he said.

As a regional road, the Princes Highway comes under the responsibility of the  Shellharbour council 

The Princes Highway is a regional road that comes under the responsibility of the Roads and Maritime (RMS), however Shellharbour City Council voiced concerns for motorist parking along the shopfront and had lobbied to the government for funding to make improvements, which would include a parking bay. A council spokesperson said they had not yet received a response.

The road is considered by the RMS as a major commuter, tourist and freight road connecting Sydney to the South Coast. In the mid 1990s the project to build the Albion Park Bypass was first considered in an effort to create a better route between Oak Flats and Yallah. 

The state government is currently mapping out a road route and conducting investigations into the bypass.

Shellharbour MP Anna Watson slammed the NSW government this week for “wasting” four years and spending $1.1 million on a study that was decided 15 years ago. 

“I’ve been calling for the state government to front-load all of the necessary engineering, geotechnical, concept design and environmental impact statement work into a clearly defined period, so we can get this massive $600 million infrastructure project going,” she said. 

“I want the Albion Park Road Bypass started during the next term of the NSW Parliament. Half of the bypass is eligible for funding under the proposed Regional Roads Fund and the other half isn’t”, Ms Watson said.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward said the Labor government had “failed” to fix the bypass during its 16 years in government.

“Traffic congestion in Albion Park Rail didn’t start from the day the coalition took office. Labor ignored the problems at Albion Park Rail for 16 years in Government,” he said.

“Since coming to Government, I have secured record funds to commence the planning work that needs to be done to progress this major and important infrastructure.

Mr Ward said the bypass would be funded by the $20 billion expected to come from the sale of the state’s poles and wires.