The route between Boggabri and Manilla has long been a thorn in the side of the local community who have been campaigning to see the road sealed for years.

In 2019, the NSW Government committed to sealing the road with $12 million allocated for the works.

The NSW Government committed a further $3.3 million towards the project as part of the 2022/23 budget.

In July 2022, Transport for NSW took over management of the works.

Work has now begun to upgrade the road with crews completing drainage works in the first quarter of 2023.

Major construction work is expected to begin very soon.