Riverina MP Michael McCormack surprised Wagga council with a $2.5 million pledge to pay for half the road upgrade and council general manager Alan Eldridge has committed to find the money to match.

The election promise comes after Tracey Gunston died in an accident on the dangerous stretch less than a decade ago.

“Dunns Road is a critical access point between the Olympic Highway and Wagga Wagga’s outer suburbs along Holbrook Road,” Mr McCormack said.

“We all know it’s a great safety concern and is in desperate need of upgrade, with trucks, buses and other vehicles using it daily.

“It was an accident waiting to happen.”

Mr Eldridge will now begin looking for $2.5 million.

“A number of people expressed serious concerns about Dunns Road,” Mr Eldridge said.

“The patchwork roadworks meant we effectively needed to do something or close it down.”

Mr Eldridge will look to section 94 developer contributions to supplement existing roads money and funds in “other pockets of the general budget”.

Mr McCormack made his announcement alongside infrastructure minister Darren Chester, who announced $3.35 million for roads in the Riverina, to go ahead regardless of who wins the election.

Those upgrades include $937,500 to seal 11.5km of Grubben Road; $800,000 to widen 10.5km of the Newell Highway; $660,000 upgrading Newell Highway’s culverts; $650,000 to accomodate B-Double trucks at the intersection of the Newell Highway and Greenthorpe-Bumbaldry Road; and $300,000 sealing Middle Trundle Road.

“The Coalition is committed to working with the heavy vehicle industry and getting on with the job of providing safer and more productive freight network,” Mr Chester said.

“A competitive freight industry supports jobs and growth in our primary industries and there are flow-on safety benefits.”