That closure from October to December saw Lawrence Hargrave Drive listed as a preferred detour route.

That saw daily traffic volumes double to around 6000 cars a day for the period of the two-month closure.

According to figures from Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), the average daily traffic volumes along Lawrence Hargrave Drive for 2017 is already greater than last year’s.

The figures take a measure of traffic on Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Clifton.

In 2016 the average number of vehicles travelling on the road each day was 4467 – including the two-month period of the Bulli Pass closure.

However, the average daily figure for 2017 is sitting at 5381 – 914 extra cars a day.

It’s a figure that may concern residents along Lawrence Hargrave Drive with a second two-month closure of Bulli Pass due to be announced shortly.

But RMS said the figures may not be an accurate reflection of traffic numbers.

“Traffic counts for this year on Lawrence Hargrave Drive only cover a short time-frame which includes summer, when volumes are typically higher,” an RMS Services spokesman said.

“Data for 2016 is not a full set of data and only reports the average data available.”

A rise in traffic numbers on Lawrence Hargrave Drive during the closure of Bulli Pass did not come as a surprise to RMS, the spokesman said.

“RMS expected a significant number of motorists to use Lawrence Hargrave Drive as a detour during the first Bulli Pass closure,” he said.

“Around 6000 extra vehicles used Lawrence Hargrave Drive during last year’s Bulli Pass closure.”

The dates for the second closure of the pass are expected to be announced shortly.

While the minimum notice period is two months before the closure, it is understood the gap will be greater than that.

The RMS spokesman said traffic volumes are being taken into account in choosing closure dates.

“The timing of the second Bulli Pass closure will consider when traffic volumes are comparatively lower than the yearly average,” he said.