The busy road has been deteriorating for several years and community members Peter Kennedy and John Shewan this week raised concerns about its safety.

The men say the road should be a state responsibility, rather than falling on the shoulders of Muswellbrook Shire Council.

“The road has been in a bad condition for several years and there have been no improvements and scant maintenance,” Mr Shewan said.

“This road means coalmines can produce millions of dollars worth of coal and it’s grossly unsafe.

“It should be state managed because the main users are mines and they are collecting the royalties.

“If the council was collecting substantial royalties then it could be their responsibility, but they’re not.”

Mr Kennedy said he knew of mine workers who left home 15 minutes earlier than usual to avoid using the worst section of the road.

“I’ve worked in a lot of big open-cut coalmines in central Queensland and the blokes up there just wouldn’t drive on a road like that; they would demand something better,” he said.

Muswellbrook Shire mayor Martin Rush said the council had requested the state government reclassify the road, but had been refused.

“It is council’s position that Thomas Mitchell Drive should be classed as a state road because it serves six state-significant developments and carries more traffic than the Golden Highway,” Cr Rush said.

“The state government has said they are not prepared to classify it as a state road at this time so council, faced with no other option, has made it a condition of consent for a variety of coalmines that they fund the upgrade of the road.

“To their credit, BHP Billiton is footing a $3 million contribution and making a $4 million interest-free loan to the upgrade.

“Work is scheduled to start in approximately April or May next year and will take about 18 months.”

Cr Rush said there was a $4 million shortfall in the total cost of the project, however work would start using the $7 million that had already been funded.

“Council will need to explore what revenues are available to it to bridge that shortfall in the preparation of its 2012-13 budget,” Cr Rush said.

Mr Shewan has called on the council to carry out immediate maintenance on the road, including line marking, guide posting, repairing the shoulders and routine maintenance of the surface until a full upgrade starts.