The city has been short-listed for a share of $37.5 million from the state government’s Fixing Country Roads Program.

Council will meet with government representatives today to discuss how to make a full application for $2 million for major work on Tocal Road to repair the damage caused by the increase in truck movements.

Infrastructure strategy and works programming manager Chris McGrath said council had considered applying for money to upgrade Allandale Road.

But he said increased truck traffic along Tocal Road, to and from Martins Creek Quarry, presented a more urgent need for extra money.

Mr McGrath said Fixing Country Roads funding would mean council could undertake upgrades beyond those that were already under way.

“We were doing work there anyway,” he said.

“This would be additional to that. It would be a final solution for the road.”

The extra money would allow road widening on a 1.4km stretch between Mindarriba House and Eelah Road.

It would also pay for heavy patching and improved drainage between Paterson Road and Hilldale Drive.

A recent council study found there were about 500 truck movements along Tocal Road each week day, which was a 30 per cent rise from 2011.

Roads Minister Duncan Gay said 107 applications had been short-listed for funding. 

“This is great for regional economies and jobs and also helps to reduce wear and tear on roads and bridges,” he said.

Mr Gay said an independent panel would evaluate the applications and distribute the money to winning projects in January.

“This is a prime example of taking politics out of infrastructure funding,” he said.