Regional councils will get $700 million to upgrade and maintain roads in Tuesday’s state budget, including almost $400m for emergency repairs.

The new $390 Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund, or RERRF, will see money flow directly to councils based on the size of their road networks, Roads Minister Aitchison says.

Maintenance work funded under the emergency program could include heavy road patching, reshaping and smoothing unsealed roads, carrying out work to improve drainage, and rehabilitation and resurfacing work.

“This fund will deliver money directly into the hands of regional and rural councils for urgent road and pothole repairs,” Mr Aitchison said.

“Councils will finally be able to address the damage that’s been caused to their roads.”

The cash pot will be spread across 95 eligible regional councils and authorities, based on the total kilometres of regional and local roads they manage.

Ms Aitchsion said it’s a fairer funding structure that will help councils prioritise road repairs and upgrades, including those  still suffering damage from natural disasters.

It will also address inequities in the former Regional and Local Roads Repair Program, which saw urban councils received the lion’s share of the funding.

Meanwhile, the budget will also provide $334 for a new Regional Roads fund for projects including new roads and roundabouts, bridge replacements and repairs and safety upgrades in crash blackspots.

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