Work on a 19.6-kilometre stretch of Rangari Road in the Tamworth Regional and Gunnedah Shire local government areas will begin in December.
Road crews are now preparing to break dirt next month.
Earlier this year, the state government took over the responsibility for the road upgrade following unexpected cost blow-outs.
Almost 20 kilometres of road are to be widened and bitumised as part of the project.
In total, 30 kilometres of Rangari Road are gravel – 10.2 kilometres in Narrabri Shire, 15.7 kilometres in Gunnedah and 3.8 kilometres in Tamworth.
The stretch of Rangari Road to be upgraded runs from almost four kilometres east of the Gunnedah/Tamworth council area boundary to the Gunnedah/Narrabri council area boundary past Wean Road.
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said he had been pushing hard to get shovels in the ground as soon as possible as he did not want to see the recent flooding events push back construction any further.
“Transport for NSW took over the project in July and since that time, I have been working closely with the department to see what could be done to get work underway as soon as possible,” Mr Anderson said.
“Since July, ongoing wet weather events have kept all our road crews extremely busy as they work around the clock to fill potholes and repair land slips.
“I can now update the community that Transport have brought forward a significant amount of work on the road and the community can now expect to see the trucks on site in December.
“The community have been campaigning for an upgrade to Rangari, and I am pleased that the NSW government will now deliver the safe, sealed road the community needs and deserves.
“Rangari Road will soon become the vital freight and farming route we have been fighting for, as well as a much safer route for local families. I’m looking forward to joining the community in a matter of weeks to celebrate the start of work on the road.”
In addition to the NSW government’s extensive financial commitment to the project, contributions have been made by Tamworth and Gunnedah shires.
Mining and agricultural industries in and around Boggabri use the road as a key route.
