The traffic has become increasingly worse with population increase and lack of action from authorities.

Lake Macquarie councillor Laurie Coghlan said the traffic lights should be synchronised to allow a smoother flow of traffic in peak hours.

‘‘At 3pm to 4pm and in the morning peak hour it’s crazy,’’ Cr Coghlan said.

‘‘Cars are banked up right through Belmont.’’

Cr Coghlan said it recently took him 25 minutes to travel along the Pacific Highway from Wommara Avenue, Belmont North, to Beach Street, Belmont South.

Google Maps show nine sets of traffic lights between the two streets.

The council approved a traffic study for Belmont in 2004, which detailed a range of options to improve traffic flow.

Cr Coghlan said the study had sat on a shelf.

‘‘I’ve watched a lack of response to Belmont’s traffic problems from the council and state members for 30 years,’’ he said.

‘‘There’s never been a satisfactory response.’’

The council has agreed to write to NSW Roads and Maritime Services asking it to consider synchronising traffic lights.

Swansea MP Garry Edwards said traffic through Belmont was ‘‘abominable’’.

‘‘Traffic planning in Belmont has sadly been neglected for 20 years, since approvals first came through for high-rise,’’ Mr Edwards said.

Mr Edwards said a planned bypass from Glad Gunson Drive, Eleebana, to the Pacific Highway, Belmont, should be reconsidered to remove traffic from Brooks Parade and other busy streets.

Mr Edwards said he would support three- to four-month trials of Brooks Parade as a one-way street and synchronised traffic lights on the highway.

‘‘The ideas may do some good, but we need to test them to see if they have any ill effects,’’ he said.