A Labor MP wants to see what action can be taken to reduce traffic congestion on Lawrence Hargrave Drive but a Liberal MP believes the options are limited.
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Keira MP Ryan Park is calling on the Roads and Maritime Services to release a report which will hopefully provide options on ways to reduce congestion along Lawrence Hargrave Drive.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Future Transport Plan will look into the road network and pinch points between Thirroul and Unanderra.
Lawrence Hargrave Drive is a state government-owned thoroughfare connecting Helensburgh and Thirroul and is usually gridlocked on a weekend or public holiday.
Mr Park said residents were "very frustrated" with the congestion and he recently wrote to the minister demanding the transport plan be finalised and publicly released.
"I want to know why this study has taken two years, why it hasn't been released, where are the pinch points, what are the options to ease traffic flow and what investment those will require," he said.
"It is then up to people like me to advocate strongly for funding for short, medium and long-term solutions.
"In two years, residents have not been given any information on addressing this major problem."
Heathcote MP Lee Evans said he could not foresee any viable option to reduce the traffic congestion but would be asking for an update on the status of the transport plan when Parliament resumed on May 6.
"When I was first elected in 2011, the Grand Pacific Drive and Grand Pacific Walk were proposed to encourage people to visit the Illawarra," he said.
"Well guess what, people came. And they are continuing to come.
"Tens of thousands of people visit Sea Cliff Bridge and the result has traffic increased."
Mr Evans said the narrow road was basically a cobble track with tar on top and houses abutted the road.
Tens of thousands of people visit Sea Cliff Bridge and the result has traffic increased.
- MP Lee Evans
"Naturally the traffic builds up, especially near the shopping centres along the route," he said
"There are not many options to fix the congestion unless we tell people to stop driving on the road but then the shops that are full on weekends will suffer.
"Another option is to have clearways on one lane near the shopping centres on the weekends but wait to hear the screams from shop owners."
Wollongong City Council staff will again write to the relevant ministers to fast track the investigation into traffic congestion along the 18-kilometre stretch of road.
In November last year RMS completed a road safety and traffic assessment of Lawrence Hargrave Drive including analysis of the intersection with Lady Wakehurst Drive.
A RMS spokesman said the information would help identify future potential opportunities to improve the performance of the road as well will feed into the transport plan being developed by Transport for NSW.
"RMS has also been monitoring the performance of the Bald Hill intersection at key times, including using video cameras to better understand traffic movements," he said.
"These investigations will assist in identifying potential improvements to address issues at the intersection.
"RMS recognises it is common for lengthy queues to form during morning, afternoon and Saturday peak times.
"Traffic volumes on Lawrence Hargrave Drive have grown considerably in the past 10 years, and the community, particularly those in the northern suburbs, have raised concerns about traffic congestion through Thirroul.
"RMS recognises the need to work with the community to investigate and understand if there is a cost effective solution which can reduce congestion and either maintain, or even improve, the area for the benefit of businesses and the community."
