Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson announced $8 million in Tuesday’s budget to commence the project, with an estimated start date of July next year.

The proposed road-over-rail bridge, which started as a $16 million project in 2012, has since been delayed by budget blowouts, with the latest estimate sitting at $58 million.

Former roads minister Duncan Gay visited Gunnedah last November when he confirmed the project would stay, despite significant but “totally justifiable” cost extensions.

It’s a sentiment Mr Anderson stands by.

“It’s a significant infrastructure project and an extraordinarily difficult one to nail down in terms of design so we haven’t been able to put a final cost on it,” he told the NVI.

Mr Anderson shut down suggestions the project could fall to the wayside if future funding wasn’t committed.

“The funding won’t dry up,” he assured.

“This is what the community ultimately wants, so emergency services and the community aren’t cut in half when trains are going through. It’s also going to allow higher mass limits to come from west to east over the bridge. It’s about connectivity on our road network.”

Although the project has been committed to for some time, the budget allocation ensures the project is now expected to commence in 2018. The second rail overpass will seek to improve road safety, reduce impacts of the increasing use of rail networks within the shire and meet future transport requirements for the Gunnedah and wider region.

“If I could put on a hard hat and grab a shovel, I would have started work on it years ago,” Mr Anderson said.

“In my opinion, it’s the biggest infrastructure project in Gunnedah’s history.”

Work has already been completed as part of the project, including the $2 million Conadilly St-Warrumbungle St roundabout in January last year.