The NSW Roads Minister has claimed vindication for the state transport strategy after a national audit listed seven Sydney roads among the country's 10 worst.
But public transport advocates said the report, released on Friday by the federal advisory body Infrastructure Australia, showed the need to prioritise investment in rail and bus systems.
The audit cited the Pennant Hills Road, King Georges Road, Warringah Road, and Victoria Road corridors as three of the most costly in the country when measured by delays caused by congestion.
In response, the minister, Duncan Gay, said the fact so many of the worst roads in Australia were in Sydney was "absolutely no shock to me, or this government".
"It's an important report and it vindicates the work we are doing on the roads in this state," he said.
Mr Gay said this week he was "increasingly concerned" about people campaigning against new toll-roads in Sydney. His government has committed to the $3 billion NorthConnex motorway under Pennant Hills Road and the $15 billion WestConnex motorway through Sydney's west and inner west.
Asked about the implications of the Infrastructure Australia report, he said it was a "a vindication that we are heading in the right direction in the provision of infrastructure.
"There are people that just don't like new infrastructure and it certainly is a vindication of what we are doing in this area."
Some of the worst roads run along corridors that would not be enhanced by WestConnex, with many of the routes traversing the city in different directions.
But Mr Gay said King Georges Road would be improved by WestConnex, through the removal of a pinch-point at the intersection with the M5, while the government was also investing in clearways on King Georges Road.
"When we are putting money into infrastructure we are putting money into infrastructure all across the state - our biggest spend on infrastructure is in public transport," the minister said.
Greens transport spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi said piecemeal transport planning in Sydney's past had been responsible for the city's congestion.
"That means ending this obsession with wasting billions of dollars on private toll roads, such as the Lane Cove Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel and now the WestConnex and NorthConnex," Dr Faruqi said.
"If we are serious about reducing congestion, it means giving people alternatives by investing in better, more reliable, convenient and frequent public transport for commuters, freeing up these key arteries for people that need to use them," she said.
