However, he may be asked to put them back in October when the finishing touches are applied.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward said another coat was still to be placed on the new highway’s surface, which will cover up old traffic markings and finalise the configuration of the lanes.

‘‘We still have to put another coat on the road surface and I have been advised that is best done in warmer months – so they are waiting until October,’’ Mr Ward said.

Mr Baird said the upgrade had a total value of $340 million,   $30 million up on the forecast when Roads Minister Duncan Gay turned the first sod on the project in 2012 and $11 million more than the revised 2013 figure of $329 million.

Work was originally expected to finish in ‘‘the first half of 2015’’, a deadline just missed despite contractor Fulton Hogan working around the clock to complete the project.

Mr Ward would not comment on what arrangements or compensation was being sought by the government in relation to the extra cost and the time taken – or if the contractor was willing to pay.

‘‘Contractual provisions with respect to government works are matters of commercial-in-confidence,’’ Mr Ward said.

However, he said he was ‘‘very pleased’’ with Fulton Hogan’s progress on the Foxground and Berry bypass stage.

‘‘The works survived the wet weather very well ... so far 196 of the around 320 super girders have delivered – each of which requires 22 tonnes of concrete – and they are slowly being lowered into place,’’ Mr Ward said.

Last week’s flooding caused a temporary closure of Fern Street despite extra work  to mitigate against wet weather.

In January this year, a 250-metre section of the southern approach to the bridge on Fern Street was raised by about 500 millimetres to connect to the new Omega Bridge.

‘‘Fern Street is a local road and we partnered with Kiama Council to raise it by 0.5 of a metre,’’ Mr Ward said.

‘‘We can build infrastructure and spend millions of dollars, if not tens of million of dollars, to mitigate against every event.

‘‘In most events, the raising of Fern Street will improve flood immunity – last week was an above average weather event.’’