Armidale Regional Shire Mayor Simon Murray said work was expected to take about eight weeks and said the section would be subject to 24-hour traffic control during this period because of the reduced width of road during construction.

"Sealing the road will particularly benefit stock trucks and other heavy vehicles, which historically have had difficulties along that length of Kempsey Road during wet weather," he said.

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"They've got a lot of work to do, and its objective is to reduce the maintenance needed on steep sections of gravel roads."

Normal traffic conditions are scheduled to be restored in mid May.

Cr Murray said another $4.6 million would be spent on the road.

"That was only announced a short time ago. So, there will be a fair bit of planning required to be done first before that work can starts," he said.

The grant was the result of a combined campaign by the Armidale and Kempsey councils to secure improved maintenance of the road, which is considered to be an important link between the New England Tablelands and the coast.

For further information, or to schedule a large or oversize load movement through the work site, please contact project manager Sharn Woolnough on (02) 6770 3856.

Cr Murray also mentioned the $1.5 million upgrade on Platform Road, which he said would be fully reopened to traffic this week. Work to realign and seal the Kellys Plains road to improve all weather travelling for drivers commenced on January 21.