Merv McConnochie said the road was too narrow for two vehicles to safely pass, even before pedestrians were thrown into the mix.

"If there's two vehicles passing at the same time you're often swerving into something or [potentially] taking out a pedestrian," he said.

"There's 60-odd metres where it's pretty bloody dangerous."

Mr McConnochie  said he had been left badly shaken in a near miss, as a driver, when he came across a young family on the culvert. He wants the council to provide a footpath to address the issue.

The council estimates the cost at $600,000 and has scheduled the work for 2024-25. That’s after it made an unsuccessful federal government grant application in 2008.

As a former auditor Mr McConnochie used a risk assessment matrix to weigh up the danger to drivers and pedestrians.

"I'm trying to be polite but council’s got this entrenched position about the solution," Mr McConnochie said.

He said if the council couldn't afford to fix the problem then the "duty holder should not be engaged the activity that gives rise to that risk hazard".

Rather than close the road he suggested the council build an off-road pedestrian bridge which by his calculations would be considerably cheaper.

The council declined to comment on the feasibility of a cheaper option but said it was committed to a measured fix.

"Council agrees that improvement works need to be completed at Mustons Road... which is why they have been added to the capital works program for 2024-2025," John Maretich, council’s asset section manager said.

"We have a rolling list of capital works that are limited by available funding, so these dates could change if funding does become available sooner."

The council has scheduled shoulder widening work for the road in 2017-18 as an interim measure.