Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley was surprised to hear the federal government announce funds for the Milton-Ulladulla bypass earlier in the week.
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"I would have thought they would tackle black-spots [along the highway] first," she said.
"Every community believes they should come first, but was this decision about shoring up votes or saving lives?"
Cr Findley said the Jervis Bay turn-off had been congested since the October long weekend, and posed a real safety threat for motorists travelling the highway over the busy holiday period.
"It doesn't take away from the need for a Milton-Ulladulla bypass," she said.
"But there is a more chronic need for something to be done about that intersection."
Cr Findley said she would like to see the rationale behind the decision, and how it fits into a long-term strategic plan for the Princes Highway.
"We want to see a strategic timeline on how projects up and down the coast fit together," she said.
"Is the money going to be drip-fed to the NSW Government? It sounded like they were ready to move diggers in, but there is still a lot of planning work to be done."