A WET winter is making the duplication of the Great Western Highway between Kelso and Raglan more difficult.
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And state Member for Bathurst Paul Toole has warned that COVID restrictions might make it harder to get some supplies as the road construction phase begins.
But he says the $45 million project remains on schedule.
"At the end of the day, it's well and truly under way, it will be built and it will make a difference," he said.
The upgrade to the highway - which will expand it to four lanes in one section and three lanes in another - began in January and Mr Toole said the progress was obvious when he visited the site last month.
"Earthwork and ground stabilisation in front of the Bathurst Regional Airport is now complete, telecommunications have been relocated through the majority of the project length and earthwork has now commenced opposite the BP," he said in mid-July.
The weather isn't helping the project, though: Bathurst has recorded 180 millimetres of rain in just over two months.
"It slows down the work to take place," Mr Toole said.
"We have had to go back over some of the work that has been done.
"It has been challenging with the wet weather that we are experiencing, but it's still on schedule."
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Mr Toole said Transport for NSW had been working on the project to this point, but a tender would be awarded for the construction of the road pavement.
He said COVID restrictions might affect the ability to get some of the supplies needed for the road construction and that might also create delays.
A concept design for the multi-million dollar highway upgrade was released in mid-2019 and the project was given planning approval in mid-2020.
The upgrade will create two lanes in both directions from Ashworth Drive to Napoleon Street, and two lanes eastbound and one lane westbound from Napoleon Street to the east of Ceramic Avenue.
There will also be new turning paths at highway intersections and traffic lights installed at the PJ Moodie Memorial Drive intersection, which provides access to the airport.
