Building a new $210.3 million freeway to replace U.S. Highway 59 between Lawrence and Ottawa remains on the books, the state’s top transportation official said Thursday.

But it may not be built on schedule.

Deb Miller, secretary of transportation, said that U.S. 59 remained on track for construction in 2007 and opening for traffic in 2009, as the department reviews other options for absorbing a $261.1 million loss in financing during the next 18 months.

But one of the options includes extending the state’s Comprehensive Transportation Program by “one or two years,” which could delay projects on the list. U.S. 59 is among them.

The losses in transportation funds are outlined in the budget Gov. Kathleen Sebelius proposed to the Kansas Legislature.

Miller said department officials would search for savings by reviewing the “scope” of projects, and possibly eliminating set-aside and other special programs that provide money for construction projects on a year-by-year basis.

Cities and counties will continue to receive money to be used for maintenance and other activities, she said, but programs that involve economic development, geometric improvements and at-grade railroad crossings could be cut or deferred.

“We will look at all those things before taking anything off the list of committed projects,” Miller said.