Numerous road works projects are slowly progressing in the Gunnedah and Liverpool Plains shires.
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Work is expected to start on key freight corridor Mystery Road by mid-year, according to a Gunnedah Shire Council (GSC) spokesperson.
They said the $3 million project was now in the design phase but the entire project was expected to be complete by the end of the year.
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About 8km of the 11km road, from Waverley Road to the Kamilaroi Highway between Caroona and Breeza, will be widened and sealed to ease the way for B-double trucks transporting cotton to the gin in Carroll.
About 2km of the unsealed road falls in the Liverpool Plains Shire Council (LPSC) area and about 5km falls in the GSC area.
The councils are contributing $750,000 to the project and the remaining $2.25 million will be funded by the NSW government.
The funding was announced by Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson who said Mystery Road was "an important road for the safe and efficient movement of agricultural produce".
"Not only will this funding be fixing local black spots, we're also delivering safer roads right across the region.
"I want to see our local drivers complete their trips in one piece. Any safety upgrade initiative aiming to reduce the number of crashes and severe injuries will have my full support."
Silo Road near Gunnedah will also be upgraded after $1 million was allocated in the state budget last year.
A GSC spokesperson said the project was in the final design stages.
"Gunnedah Shire Council is waiting on final designs for approval, which will then need to go to the Roads and Maritime Service for approval. The timing of the start of construction will be contingent on RMS approval of the design," they said.
The council is also preparing to carry out $2 million of road upgrades on the Kamilaroi Highway near Breeza Station's silos and said initial works were under way.
"Major works are expected to begin in about a month, and take between two and three months to complete," the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, GSC is now tarring the third kilometre of the 17.6km stretch of gravel on the Grain Valley Road near Mullaley.
The $8.2 million upgrade was started in late 2019 in response to safety concerns for locals and travellers and was the result of more than 10 years of lobbying.
The project is funded by the local, state and federal governments.
