From Friday, the speed limit on the highway from the Kiama bends to the Fern Street, Gerringong turn-off will be boosted from 60km/h to 80km/h in both directions.

‘‘We want to try and ensure we get people to where they’re going much quicker,’’ Kiama MP Gareth Ward said.

‘‘One of the greatest thing is the RMS responded to my directive to ensure the southbound lanes were open by Christmas, given the experiences we had last Christmas.’’

Last month, two southbound lanes of the upgraded highway were opened for traffic with northbound traffic continuing to use the existing highway.

Mr Ward said the extra lanes had already led to an improvement in traffic flow.

He said Friday afternoon traffic could often be ‘‘bumper to bumper’’ but was now flowing smoothly.

‘‘Essentially, by having four lanes to Gerringong you’ve got four lanes to Nowra - albeit two lanes down the Gerroa and Bolong roads and two lanes down the highway.

Night work was carried out this week on the highway, including line marking and the relocation of barriers, so the speed limit change can come into effect on Friday.

The change will remain in place through to January 5, after which time the speed limit will revert to 60km/h.

Work on the second stage of the Princes Highway upgrade – which includes the Berry bypass – will get under way in January.

Mr Ward said the second stage construction would not have as much effect on traffic as the first because much of the work would be away from the existing road. ‘‘Much of the Berry bypass is greenfield so there should be very, very little inconvenience to traffic,’’ he said.

‘‘Also we’re going to be building several sections of the bypass at once. So it won’t be a case of going from the north moving to the south, which is how the first stage commenced.’’