They're also not very impressed with the timeline for the project.

The sealing of the Tamworth Regional Council and Gunnedah Shire Council sections of Rangari Road have a price tag of $12.9 million, but only $9 million has been announced by Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson.

When questioned why this was the case, Mr Anderson said $9 million "was the number given to us and the number we were asked to fight for", and that he doesn't "commit to things I don't deliver on".

"What I won't do is say something and then not deliver on it. I said I would deliver $9 million and here we are," he said on Friday.

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Mr Anderson committed the money at the 2019 state election, but said if Tamworth and Gunnedah councils needed more funding "we're very happy to talk about that".

"Funding will be made available immediately to [the councils] to start that work. Tamworth Regional Council will work with Gunnedah Shire Council to look at further planning, if there hasn't already been planning started, to look at what needs to happen and to get this project underway," he said.

But Cr Chaffey was surprised and disappointed that only $9 million was announced.

"Two years ago, council applied under the Resources for Regions Program, in partnership with Tamworth Regional Council, to seal the entire length of Rangari Road within the two local government areas," Cr Chaffey wrote in a statement.

"We were then advised that our application had been withdrawn from consideration due to the project being funded by Transport for NSW, following the local member's election commitment.

"Unfortunately, it appears only part of that funding has materialised at this stage.

"Council looks forward to receiving further detail on the announced funding, finalising a funding deed with the NSW Government and commencing the works as soon as possible."

Cameron Ward, who drives the road daily, said he didn't know how $9 million could fix such a long stretch of road.

"You think, how far is $9 million going to go on 19km? The maths isn't quite there for me," Mr Ward told ACM.

The timeline has left much to the imagination of road users, too.

Tamworth mayor Col Murray said he anticipated that the design would "probably" be completed at the end of the financial year, and that construction would start mid-2021.

Glenys McDonald, who has lived on Rangari Road for about 30 years, was not very happy with this.

"Lives are at stake. It's a wonder there hasn't been a life lost," Ms McDonald said.

"When I see the trucks with the bitumen, I'll believe it."

Fellow Rangari Road resident, Paul Miegel, has been putting up with the dangerous road for even longer.

He's been living in the area for 60 years and said the road was a "complete disgrace".

"I voted National Party [last election] because I'm a bushie. [Mr Anderson] said 'vote for me, if I get in the road will be sealed'," Mr Miegel said.

"He's been saying it now for months and months and we just don't know when it's going to get it started.

"It's terribly dangerous."

Rangari Road provides a link between Boggabri and Manilla, and locals estimate more than 100 cars and trucks use it everyday.