Uralla Shire Council (USC) passed a motion at its ordinary meeting on Tuesday night to submit a joint application with four other councils, to have Thunderbolts Way/Bucketts Way reclassified from a regional road to a state one.

Inverell Shire Council, along with the Mid Coast, Port Stephens and Walcha councils - the latter of which started the push - are hoping to relinquish responsibility for the road, which has a high cost of maintenance.

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USC mayor Michael Pearce said given the size and length of the road - which runs from Inverell to the Pacific Highway just north of Raymond Terrace - it makes sense for it to be state owned.

"It's a very long road, and the amount of repair and maintenance that's needed is huge," he said.

"Once it becomes a state road the government can look after it through their coffers, so I think it's a win for everybody; it's a win for the government and it's a win for us particularly."

The reclassification would mean Uralla council's annual depreciation would be lowered by approximately $809,089, and its net capital asset value would be reduced by around $49 million.

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But it has inserted a dot point in the submission that would protect the interests of the local workforce.

"When maintenance is required the Uralla Shire Council will be offered the opportunity to supply the work power to do the maintenance for it," Cr Pearce said.

"Because once it becomes a state road the government pay for that infrastructure, so when they send out tenders council will be subject to that tender."

Getting roads reclassified can take quite a while though and Local Government NSW recently voiced its displeasure at the pace of the state government's road take back scheme.

Cr Pearce said he's not concerned about that just yet though, but would be keeping an eye on the situation and would give the powers that be a "bit of a hurry up" if things drag on.

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