For residents in Bomaderry it could well mean a substantial increase in traffic.

The NSW government’s Princes Highway Corridor Strategy highlights this likely event.

“The traffic volumes through Bomaderry and to the north of Nowra are expected to increase when the Berry bypass is opened to traffic as it is anticipated that a proportion of the light vehicle traffic currently using Bolong Road as an alternative north-south connection will use the Princes Highway,” the strategy stated.

At present an average of 12918 vehicles travel through Bomaderry each day.

There is no estimate of how many extra vehicles will flow into Bomaderry when the bypass is open in 2018.

Once that opens, the Berry to Bomaderry stretch would be “the only remaining section between Waterfall and Jervis Bay Road which is not four-lane divided carriageway”, the strategy noted.

As a “specific priority” in the short term the strategy called for the monitoring of “traffic and safety impacts between Berry and Bomaderry” after the bypass opens.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward – who lives in Bomaderry – said the increase in traffic highlighted the need for the Berry to Bomaderry stage of the Princes Highway upgrades.

“This infrastructure in my part of the world and my electorate is absolutely vital, not just for road safety but also to manage the traffic volumes that are increasing,” Mr Ward said.

“One of the reasons I fought so hard to secure planning money is to continue the work to get the third stage of the Gerringong to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade shovel-ready.”

The Kiama MP said he did not think all traffic using Bolong Road, which joins the highway south of Bomaderry, would use the Princes Highway once the Berry bypass was opened.

“I think that people will continue to use both roads, for various reasons,” he said.

“As a local resident I use both, depending on where I’m going.”