Funding to fix the worst of the Northern Territory’s roads will be spent as soon as possible.

Design and planning work has begun on a $106 million project, which is aimed at repairing some of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the country.

Rough sections of the Roper and Buntine highways, as well as Port Keats, Arnhem Link, Central Arnhem and Santa Teresa roads will all be upgraded.

The money has been announced by Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss and NT Chief Minister Adam Giles.

Mr Giles says the regions have needed help for some time.

“We’ve been begging to get this work done; we wanted to do it last year (but) … we’ve been waiting for the money to be approved,” Mr Giles said.

“The six projects are examples of the kind of infrastructure investment that is desperately needed for Northern Development.”

He says the latest funds are not the same as a package announced by previous federal and territory governments in August 2012, which was reportedly never spent.

“It’s a totally new deal, I never even heard about their deal,” he told AAP.

The size of the funding and the actual roads it benefits are almost exactly same as the former plan and Mr Giles says the funding ratio between the federal and NT governments is identical because it is calculated by a set model.

“Well, they’re probably the roads that need it the most,” Mr Giles said.

Regardless of the plan’s true originality, the repairs “underpin a whole plethora of other activity aimed at addressing disadvantage across the Aboriginal community,” said Joe Morrison, CEO of the Northern Land Council.

“It is unacceptable that large communities such as Wadeye, of over 2500 people, are cut off for lengthy periods of time each year – this funding will be vital in addressing this belated infrastructure requirement,” he said.

“Roads are extremely important to Aboriginal people for service delivery and access, as well as a fundamental tool for economic development.”

The six projects are expected to involve the following works:

  • Roper Highway: Construction of new bridges at the Roper River and Wilton River crossings
  • Port Keats Road: Flood immunity improvement through the Moyle River Floodplain;
  • Arnhem Link Road: Upgrade of various sections of the track to a good standard gravel road, including flood immunity improvements;
  • Buntine Highway: Widening and strengthening of the pavement, and sealing of some unsealed sections;
  • Central Arnhem Road: Construction of a bridge over Rocky Bottom Creek; and
  • Santa Teresa Road: Upgrade and sealing of various sections between Alice Springs airport and Santa Teresa.