The F6 extension through southern Sydney would help boost the NSW economy and should be a priority in government budgets, the NRMA has said.The motoring organisation yesterday called on both levels of government to commit an initial $2 million towards a planning study that would help accelerate the construction of the new road.The extension would link the Illawarra with Sydney Airport and the CBD, dramatically improving travel times and reducing congestion, but both the State and Federal governments have indefinitely stalled the plans.NRMA deputy president Michael Tynan said the present economic climate was an opportunity for the Federal Government to begin work on the road."The F6 extension is the type of major project the Australian Government needs to invest in to provide a much-needed boost to the NSW economy and provide first-class infrastructure for future generations," Mr Tynan said. "If the Prime Minister and the Treasurer are going to spend in order to bolster the economy, then it should be on projects like the F6 extension that will have short-term benefits and also deliver economic and transport benefits for generations to come."This is how the Government can create jobs and economic activity in NSW."A spokesman for Federal Roads Minister Anthony Albanese said the Government would not comment on budget matters. The State Government confirmed there would be no funding for the extension in its next budget."The simple fact is there are many competing calls on the budget including local schools and hospitals," Minister for Roads Michael Daley said yesterday."A corridor between Loftus and St Peters has been reserved for future transport use however there are no current plans to use this corridor to extend the F6."In its 2009-10 budget submissions, the NRMA says the extension is vital. It would cost $2.2 billion, but would bring benefits of almost $3 billion to NSW by 2031.The number of passengers travelling on the F6 between Wollongong and Sydney is set to double by 2030, while the amount of freight will increase to 45 million tonnes, according to a Federal Government report released last month.