Roads and Maritime Services has told the Rural Ratepayers' Association that interim results from a traffic study have shown  'very low usage' for an east-west Sturt Highway bypass

Wagga council city strategy manager Tristan Kell said the council had a long-term goal to preserve corridors to handle the six million tonnes of freight that travels east-west through Wagga each year.

"Council has been working with RMS and Transport for NSW on the Wagga Urban Highway Study for more than two years. We have not been presented any specific data for very low usage for an east-west bypass," Mr Kell said.

"Through developing the Wagga Wagga Integrated Transport Strategy (WWITS 2040), which was adopted in 2017, council undertook its own analysis and worked with NSW Government agencies such as Transport for NSW, Department of Planning and Environment and RMS.

"The east west corridor that it has the highest proportion of B-Double and B-Triple activity driving through Wagga Wagga without stopping."

The $100,000 Wagga Wagga Urban Highway Study that generated the initial data on predicted bypass demand was originally due for public release by the end of 2016 but has been delayed multiple times.

Wagga business advocates and some in the truck transport industry are continuing to push for a new bypass.

Ron Crouch Transport managing director Geoff Crouch said Wagga "absolutely does need a bypass for the city on an east-west basis".

"It's critical from a safety perspective and environmental perspective that we get as much traffic as possible off the main road going through the city," he said.

"Additionally, to ensure that businesses can leverage off the investment in RIFL and at Bomen, a northern bypass would ensure the best outcomes.

"They're spending $40 million on Rifle and the industrial park out there and that's where the bypass should go."

Mr Crouch said a well-designed bypass would also save money for Wagga transport businesses and companies that used their services.

"I am convinced that an appropriately designed bypass, taking into consideration the airport and Bomen master plans, would be a huge benefit to the city," he said.

Committee 4 Wagga chief executive Alan Johnston said "community sentiment should prevail" in getting progress on a bypass.

"Back in 2015 we put our document (with bypass options) on the table to really try and get some action going on," he said.

"That was based on what we knew at the time and based on the demand and population at that point.

"The community wasn't happy then and isn't happy now with what that road looks like.

"It is our major east-west transport routes, not only for internal traffic but heavy vehicles, so our desire for a better outcome hasn't changed."

Mr Kell said the council had the view that "a bypass would be required to ensure efficient freight movement, population growth and pedestrian safety" as the city's population was tipped to hit 100,000 people by 2040.

"Pedestrian safety and place-making are other key factors in considering the need for an alternate route," he said.

"At present, there are two primary schools and a hospital with frontage to the Sturt Highway, which means the most vulnerable community members have interactions with large heavy vehicles that have a priority of travelling through the city without stopping.

"We are working with Transport NSW to ensure that movement of vehicles, place-making and pedestrian permeability are considered in a balanced approach."

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