A federal and state Labor proposal put forward on Wednesday would see a combined $350 million committed to the project should the opposition seize power in both elections this year, superseding a $92 million commitment made by the NSW government in previous years. 

Federal Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon stood alongside Labor's state candidate for the Upper Hunter Melanie Dagg at Burkedin Park to announce the dual pledge, and while neither could say when the bypass would be built, they challenged their counterparts to match the proposal. 

"We're not waiting for the NSW government anymore, we're putting $250 million on the table now," Mr Fitzgibbon said of the federal funds. 

"The local community doesn't want to see politicians arguing about who's funding [the bypass] … let's get on with it." 

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When the Newcastle Herald canvassed the town after the announcement, most residents, business operators and workers who drive the New England Highway said the bypass was needed now as congestion in peak periods was a major frustration. 

Aberglasslyn resident, Ian, 44, who drove to Muswellbrook for work each day for the past eight years up until last year, said it was a "pretty painful" drive through Singleton.  

"It doesn't matter what time you leave; whether it is 430, five o'clock, six o'clock, she's just a bottleneck going through Singleton," he said.  

"I used to do it before the [Hunter Expressway] come in. So I was going through Branxton, that was always the bottleneck and that was terrible.

"The bottleneck is now Singleton, they've just transferred it up the road." 

Many people the Herald spoke to expressed concerns about the bypass's possible impact on Singleton's economy, particularly on small businesses deriving trade from passing traffic, but others were of the opinion that if decent exits were part of the bypass, the impact would be minimal. 

"Businesses might suffer but people will be happier," ​said Singleton retail worker Helen Bailey, 59, who described peak traffic as "unbelievable". 

"I can't see [the bypass] happening in the next five years, there's been too much talk about it for years," she said.

"Singleton seems to miss out on a terrible lot." 

Ms Bailey's colleague, Ellie Walker, 24, said her old work journey to Newcastle used to take 90 minutes instead of an hour because of traffic. She said the bypass was needed but there could be some economic impact if workers in the region chose to live elsewhere.  

"It's getting pretty ridiculous," she said of the traffic. 

"Economically it will probably affect us, business wise, because I think families probably won't move here so they're closer to the work.

"If it's [bypass] efficient enough, they'll probably move elsewhere and just travel."

While there was a general consensus the project needed to go ahead, some people believed the proposed bypass route was still an issue. 

Singleton Highway Butchery owner Garry Leacy, 67, who lives at Whittingham where the bypass is planned to run through, said people would still visit Singleton if the bypass was built but the likely route was "too close to town" and "more barren land" could be used. 

"Prime land is precious, you shouldn't be taking prime land to do something like that," he said. 

Singleton council has listed the bypass as its top advocacy priority ahead of the federal and state elections.

Mayor Sue Moore said residents' views on the bypass had evolved over the years and they were now desperate for it to be built. 

"It changed a few years ago when people realised the level of congestion that was being dealt with," she said. 

"Trying to be move around town, trying to get through town - it's a frustration not just with the Singleton community but the whole Hunter. 

"Bypasses aren't always palatable and that's why the chamber of commerce came on board and said, 'the bypass will work so long as the route stays fairly close to town and the connectivity with the town stays there'." 

The NSW Labor party has also pledged to match the NSW government's $266 million commitment to build the Muswellbrook bypass.