A swell of residents vented outrage at the $900,000 proposal, arguing the pedestrian crossing will only compound Nowra’s traffic problems.

The new crossing is tipped to be a safer option for pedestrians, who have been crossing at a gap in the fence near the Junction Street intersection.

However, motorists are fuming.

“How about build a bigger fence so pedestrians have to use the bridge, this is just going to make the town slower to negotiate,” Nowra’s Peter Flanagan said.

“Locals are just fed up with stupid decisions.

“We are getting a new bridge but if the traffic can’t flow what is the point?”

There are a number of options to cross the highway on foot nearby, which is fuelling some of the rage.

“You can’t keep putting roundabouts and lights on a major bloody highway,” Sonia Moon said.

“How about these pedestrians use the existing overpass or two, yes two, pedestrian crossings already in place.”

Bomaderry’s Wayne Hampson wants government bodies to work together for a permanent solution to Nowra’s traffic flow issues.

“We need fewer traffic lights through Nowra, not more,” he said.

“When are governments going to work to speed up the flow of traffic through Nowra?”

The matter is not up for community consultation – works are due to start in July.

The project manager could not confirm whether any community consultation had been done, either by council or the Roads and Maritime Services, in the lead up to planning the crossing.