Feeling the pressure of the electorate to take action on the highway, the Liberals who currently hold the seat of Eden-Monaro announced the funds, to be rolled out over four years, would see additional overtaking lanes, better traffic monitoring systems and a host of safety improvements. What it won't deliver, however, is complete duplication.

Improvements have already been made to some of the more dangerous sections, but it is a constant bug-bear for those seeking the country lifestyle in close proximity to the services and jobs of a city. Residents of these areas claim the road is dangerous and long overdue for an upgrade, and that only duplication will finally make it as safe as some of the other main approaches into Canberra. There have been sufficient accidents including fatalities over the years to add weight to those claims.

There are also good reasons for those members of the community action group behind the push to be optimistic. In addition to sitting member Peter Hendy's pledge, Labor candidate Mike Kelly has hinted he may have more to say on the highway before the July 2 poll.

Little wonder: the most recent redistribution of electoral boundaries has seen that section of road move from the previously safe Liberal seat of Hume to the knife-edge seat of Eden-Monaro, placing it in must-win territory for both political parties. Already a conga line of ministers, including the prime minister, have been making appearances throughout Eden-Monaro making local election promises. Labor has also been campaigning hard to take back the seat that for decades has gone the way of the party that forms government.

But those hoping the current climate will finally deliver a massive spending spree by whoever wins on July 2 may be in for disappointment. Firstly, duplicating roads is poisonously expensive. The 11.5km Majura Parkway project final cost was in the region of $300 million. The section of the Barton Highway that would need to be duplicated is three times that length, and comes at a time of sagging revenue prospects. With both sides keen to claim the tag of the most fiscally responsible party, they will be wary not to be seen to be making reckless cash splashes on marginal seats.

Also, Eden-Monaro, while important, is just one of about a dozen marginal seats that both parties will be trying to win.

While the Barton is important to our region, there are numerous roads throughout the country carrying vastly more traffic, and as a result incurring far more accidents and deaths. The NSW road statistics for 2014 show 21 injured or killed on the Barton Highway, compared with 210 for the Cumberland Highway or 805 for the notorious Pacific Highway. Fixing all of the blackspots (before even discussing the problems with the Kings Highway) is a daunting task, and not one that can be tackled in one single injection of money.

Residents who rely on the highway to reach jobs in Canberra will welcome the Liberal pledge, and will be hoping for something at least as good from Labor. But those hoping this will be the year that brings a fully duplicated, safer Barton Highway, may find themselves post election, still waiting.