That was the finding of a study commissioned by the Ballarat City Council last year and released this week.

South Ward Councillor Ben Taylor said the road was not coping in peak times

"The demand on the road is getting to the point where it just cannot handle it,'' Cr Taylor said.

A report to be considered by council tomorrow night recommends lobbying the State Government to bring forward $7.1 million of works planned for the road.

Instead of up to 15 years for some changes, the upgrades should be done in the next two years, the report said.

The CPG Australia analysis said if the timetable for works such as intersection upgrades was not sped up, increased demand would mean more congestion and delays for motorists.

Cr Taylor said demand from schools, businesses and housing developments along the route would push it to breaking point in five years.

"The analysis shows that if action isn't taken soon, traffic increases will cause sections of the road to fail by 2015."

The fallout would also affect other roads in the area, in particular Yankee Flat Rd.

Traffic numbers on that road were expected to jump by 85 per cent in the next 20 years.

Cr Taylor said the first priority should be too fix the Whitehorse Rd roundabout.

At the moment, that is not scheduled to happen for between five and 10 years.

The report has put the cost of that work alone at $1.8 million.

Cr Taylor said the road currently services 2870 properties in the area and was crucial for access in emergencies, such as the New Year's Eve fires.

The 2007 Ballarat Road Transport Strategy showed in 2005-06 that the road was carrying 14,700 vehicles each day.

That figure was expected to grow to 22,000 by 2031.