Speaking at the Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) September breakfast, both state Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen and Road and Maritime Services' (RMS) Anna Zycki assured the packed crowd the project was on track.

Having forgone federal help and committed $266 million in state funding earlier this year, the coalition allocated $4 million of that in the NSW Budget in June.

On Tuesday, for the first time at a public event, Ms Zycki revealed exactly what that money was going towards and where they were at in their planning.

She said the RMS was currently in the process of selecting a preferred option, and preparing to announce tenders for the development of that option, the concept design, an environmental assessment and project approvals.

While it may seem as if ground works are only just being laid now, she stated everything was moving along at a swift pace.

"It's been going very well," Ms Zycki said.

"We have a very experienced team working on this and they're used to working with the constraints around the Hunter Valley and various things like mining and the environment.

"So, it's all been going very well to date."

Ms Zycki acknowledged that while she had made similar speeches in the past for MCCI, this was easily the most significant.

When she last addressed the chamber in 2015 there was just $68 million on the table, they were using a 2005 model and the benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) was under one, meaning it would've been unsuitable to build the bypass.

However, with the financing now available, a refined version of the mid-2000's design and an improved BCR of 1.3, the RMS Hunter region director said they were in a strong position.

"It's really good to know we've got that funding there, obviously before the election we had funding to get it to shovel ready and we were working along those lines," she announced.

"But, now that we've got the full funding, it really does give the team a bit of an extra push to move on with the project."

Effects on flora and fauna, indigenous heritage sites and seeking feedback and information regarding who stops in town and uses the New England Highway will also be part of the first stage of planning.

In the third tier of planning, they will develop a Review of Environmental Factors, and once that is determined the RMS will seek a Final Business Case approval, which will grant them access to the construction money.

Ms Zycki accepted unforeseen circumstances could disrupt the timeline, but remains confident the bypass will be ready by 2025, saying there is "a lot of fat" on their three-year construction phase.

Mr Johnson pointed out the quick completion rate of the Scone Bypass, which could be ready by as early as late this year.

When asked whether he believed Muswellbrook's infrastructure project could be his legacy while in office, he quipped that he didn't intend on finishing his term that quickly, but did say it would be a highlight for him.

"I'm sure there'll be more than one legacy, but the Muswellbrook Bypass is a very important one," he said.

They both fielded questions about the potential of one for Singleton in the near future and said that, despite heavy planning already being underway, they lack the finance to seriously consider it for now.

Mr Johnsen said they would likely require federal funding given it would cost upwards of $600 million, but stated he would be prepared to work with a Liberal or Labor-led government to obtain the money.

"It's important to understand that the projects need to stack up no matter who's in government," he said.

"At the end of the day, what we've got to do is build the right case, built the right momentum and do everything that we can possibly here locally to ensure that we do get that funding."