JOHN Denver used to sing about country roads leading almost to heaven, but the state of gravel roads in the Southern Downs council region leaves them looking more like highways to hell.

Reports to this week's round of council meetings reveal that more than 1000km of our gravel roads - many of which are vital economic connectors - are rated by engineers as "poor" or "very poor.

Maintenance costs are expected to nearly triple in less than a decade.

Bitumen roads are also set to cost us dearly, with maintenance costs tipped to double in the same period, and a shortage of skilled engineering staff will make the situation worse.

As the new budget looms, councillors heard the Southern Downs had 1518km of gravel roads, the same distance as the crow flies from Brisbane to Port Augusta, while our sealed bitumen roads laid out straight would stretch from here to Melbourne.

Current budget allocations and ongoing estimates factor in $800,000 a year for gravel re-sheeting and $1.45 million for new bitumen seals, but the latest figures from council staff show each budget amount should rise to $2.5 million a year between now and 2021, roughly a combined 55% jump.

The gravel road figure is based on a re-sheet every 10 years, while the bitumen figure represents a new seal every 12 years.

ENGINEERING director Peter See said 64% of gravel roads alone were in need of "major maintenance".

Engineering Services chairman Cr Vic Pennisi called the report "very sobering".

Deputy Mayor and Infrastructure portfolio chairman Cr Ross Bartley urged councillors to see the carnage for themselves.

"We are in trouble, believe me," he said.

"Our assets aren't going to be assets for much longer, they're going to be dirt tracks."

Cr Bartley said gravel was degrading under traffic and "turns to slush" within weeks of rain.

"I think we need to look at the policy and what type of gravel we are using," he said.