The federal Labor Party has committed to duplicating the Barton Highway if elected next month, announcing it will invest almost $250 million in the project.
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The party's infrastructure, transport, cities and regional development spokesman Anthony Albanese and member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly made the promise on Sunday.
Dr Kelly said more money would be needed to complete the full duplication of the Barton Hwy, but it was enough to start.
"I want to be really clear that Labor is committing to the full duplication of the Barton Hwy from the ACT/NSW border to south of Yass where it's duplicated now," he said.
"We know $250m isn't enough to cover the full duplication - by the time it's done we'll be closer to $1 billion - but this is what we need to get the first section done and then we need to do the costings to know what we'll be committing to in future budgets.
"The $250m will be in our first budget," Dr Kelly said.
Dr Kelly said Labor's pledge included the Murrumbateman bypass.
"Once we start, we won't be stopping until we finish the duplication," he said. "The bypass is the most complicated piece of the puzzle, but as I understand it, there has already been some work done on it."
The Nationals for Eden-Monaro shared Labor's announcement on its Facebook page, saying the $250m would not duplicate the Barton Hwy, despite it being $50m more than the coalition's pledge.
The federal coalition has so far committed $150m to the Barton Highway duplication, with $100m of that in this financial year's federal budget. The state coalition has also committed $50m.
The Nationals candidate for Eden-Monaro, Sophie Wade, did not respond to the Tribune's questions in time for publication.
Dr Kelly said the coalition's money wasn't for duplication but for upgrades and safety measures.
The coalition's official communication on the Barton Hwy has referred to upgrades rather than duplication to date.
However, deputy prime minister and minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development, Michael McCormack, told the Tribune in January that his party "was going to duplicate the Barton Highway."
"The work is happening as we speak," he said.
Nevertheless, Yass Valley residents remain sceptical after years of political promises to duplicate the Barton Hwy, but progress yet to be seen.
Increasing traffic volumes have led to a rising number of crashes on the highway, with six fatalities since 2012.
The 52km highway runs between Canberra and Yass, and links the ACT to southern and western parts of NSW.
It is used by 12,500 vehicles per day, including about 1000 trucks.
Earlier this year, drivers gave the highway a rating of 38 out of 100 in a National Roads and Motorists' Association transport survey, citing safety concerns as their main gripe.
The Barton Highway was one of the 10 roads to receive the most responses. Of those 10, its rating was the lowest.
