On October 4 the pass was closed to install rockfall fencing, with Lawrence Hargrave Drive and Memorial Drive-M1 Princes Motorway highlighted by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) as the two detour routes.

According to RMS figures, the 2016 average daily traffic on Lawrence Hargrave Drive – measured at Clifton – was 4351 vehicles.

However, an RMS spokesman said, since the Bulli Pass closure, “around 12,000 vehicles a day” are using Lawrence Hargrave Drive.

That’s a 175 per cent increase in just over two weeks.

The increase does not include heavy vehicles like B-doubles, which are not permitted to use Bulli Pass or Lawrence Hargrave Drive due to load restrictions.

The spokesman said RMS was tracking traffic conditions during the Bulli Pass closure.

“Traffic commanders and emergency patrollers are monitoring the performance of the key corridors, with around 12,000 vehicles a day using Lawrence Hargrave Drive, which has been flowing freely,” the RMS spokesman said.

“Increases in traffic have been between 5am and 8am and 4pm to 7pm.”

The spokesman said that, during the morning and afternoon peaks, light and heavy tow trucks were on site at Mt Ousley, with a light tow truck also on Lawrence Hargrave Drive.

The spokesman also addressed reports of heavy traffic congestion along Mt Ousley Road last weekend.

Some residents reported southbound traffic down Mt Ousley was moving much slower than usual on Sunday.

“Traffic on the weekend was heavier due the good weather and the Run Wollongong event, while traffic on the detour routes has been flowing freely on the weekends,” the spokesman said.

Bulli Pass will reopen next week for the arrival of the Radiance of the Seas cruise ship.

It will open at 3pm on October 28 and close at 9am on October 31.