Recent wet weather and an increase in trucks as a result of the closure of the north-south rail line have been blamed for the worsening condition of the state's only national highway.
RACT public policy general manager Vince Taskunas highlighted sections of road around Pontville, Oatlands and Ross as being in urgent need of attention.
"This is dangerous and adds to the risk of crashes," Mr Taskunas said.
"Especially with the kind of wet icy weather patterns we get on the highway, it just adds to the unsafe conditions."
Department of Infrastructure general manager of roads and traffic Peter Todd said maintenance teams were dealing with an increase in potholes across the state.
"It is largely a function of the rainfall we have had," Mr Todd said.
"The average rainfall for Hobart to the end of June is 234mm but we have had 401mm to date, so we are seeing potholes everywhere -- not just on the Midland Highway but local council roads."
Southern Midlands Mayor Tony Bisdee said road maintenance programs were not keeping up with the problem.
"You see workmen on the road but they are only putting Band-Aids on it, they are not addressing real problems. It needs much more remedial work or it needs replacement," Cr Bisdee said.
"If the road is going to continue to carry the volumes and heavy vehicles that it does, the federal and state governments will have to rethink their maintenance program."
Cr Bisdee said he had noticed a marked increase in truck traffic since the closure of the north-south rail line in May.
The Legislative Council member for Western Tiers, Greg Hall, labelled sections between Pontville and Ross a "horror show".
"Our road toll is already out of control this year and the State Government cannot afford to sit on its hands over this major deterioration of sections of our national highway," Mr Hall said.
Liberal infrastructure spokesman Jeremy Rockliff said the problems reinforced the need for a four-lane Midland Highway.
"The State Government's own reports say there is going to be a 70 per cent increase in heavy freight on our roads in the next 20 years and if this highway is crumbling under the pressure of current traffic rates then it is certainly going to need attention over the next decade," Mr Rockliff said.
Source: The Mercury
