The dubious honour came from almost 12,000 motorists who voted in this year’s NRMA Seeing Red on Roads survey.

The highway at Albion Park has been the bane of many Illawarra motorists, and holiday-makers will also likely suffer while driving down the coast this long weekend.

So it’s no surprise that it was voted the worst road in the Illawarra.

But it’s also finished in fourth spot for the worst roads across the state, finishing just behind Pennant Hills Road and Parramatta Road.

It’s the second straight year the road - which is now the subject of fresh planning for a possible bypass - has taken out fourth place.

NRMA director Michael Tynan, who has responsibility for the Illawarra, said the high ranking for this section of the Princes Highway was not surprising.

‘‘The section of highway leading south to Albion Park Rail has been at least three lanes either way for years now, while the section after Albion Park Rail was recently upgraded to dual carriageway, providing a safe and mostly congestion-free run to Nowra,’’ Mr Tynan said.

‘‘The big problem is the section from the Illawarra Highway roundabout to Albion Park Rail station, which is slow, contains several sets of traffic lights and is in desperate need of upgrade to ensure continuity of speed and safety on the Princes Highway.’’

The highway at Albion Park easily outpolled Appin Road (18th overall) for the title of worst road in the region - 206 votes to 81.

The Illawarra Highway came third (33rd overall) with 38 votes and Mt Ousley Road with 13 votes finished fourth (112th overall).

In previous years, Picton Road had been ranked in second spot but has fallen to 10th place this year - a sign the substantial work done on the road in recent years has had an effect.

‘‘It goes to show that investing in roads saves lives and reduces travel times,” Mr Tynan said.

“I am pleased the NSW Government listened to the NRMA a few years back when we lobbied for upgrades on a road that made too many headlines for the number of lives lost on the road.’’

Shellharbour MP Anna Watson saw the survey results as further proof of the urgent need for the Albion Park Rail bypass.

‘‘The Albion Park Rail stretch of the Princes Highway is a car park and the congestion problem is only getting worse,’’ Ms Watson said.

‘‘The NSW Liberals could have got the Albion Park Rail Bypass started by now instead of spending $1.1 million and wasting the last four years studying a road route which had been decided 15 years ago and is reserved in local Council environment plans.

“I want the Albion Park Road Bypass started during the next term of the New South Wales Parliament.’’