Major Bruce Highway upgrades abandoned by a construction company in February are now eight months behind schedule.
The Queensland government has not found new contractors to resume the work and will not say when the project, originally due this year, will be completed.
WBHO Infrastructure previously held $68.85 million worth of contracts for the work at three sites between Ayr and Proserpine.
The company went into voluntary administration in February and workers have not picked up tools at the Bowen Connection Road and Emu Creek sites since.
LNP Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the abandoned road work was an inconvenience to motorists.
"I'm receiving a lot of phone calls from frustrated road users, truck drivers, bus drivers who are just fed up," he said.
"You can easily add an hour travelling time between Townsville and Mackay due to the road work."
Mr Last said he was also concerned that those parts of the Bruce Highway would be more likely to be affected by flooding.
"This is deeply concerning given that we have a very rapidly approaching wet season," he said.
"If we get a significant wet weather event would those incomplete road works cope with the excess flow of water?
"The road is a major artery for the east coast of north Queensland.
"Those communities like Bowen can be suddenly left without a supply line."
Inflation, shortages blamed
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the government was "advanced" in its process of procuring new contractors.
"I expect that process that will be complete very soon," he said.
Mr Bailey would not specify when work might resume and blamed the delay on inflation and skills shortages.
"In the high inflation environment left by the Morrison government we've seen construction companies – several of them – hit the wall," he said.
"Not any little company can come finish this for us — they must be qualified and of a certain standard."
Mr Bailey "hoped" the work could be completed in 2023 and apologised to the public.
"It has been frustrating, there is no doubt about that," he said.
"I do apologise — these sites have gone on for much longer than we would prefer.
"When a company goes bust that is not something that we have control over.
"What we have control over is to make sure we have a good company to take over.
"We will work on getting that done as fast as humanly possible."
