Traffic on U.S. Highway 59 south of Lawrence on Tuesday passes a home on a trailer ready to be relocated when the new Highway 59 is constructed just to the east of the current Highway 59. funding could be in jeopardy because of dwindling federal highway funds, officials say.

Topeka ? A federal funding shortfall could jeopardize reconstruction of U.S. Highway 59 from Lawrence to Ottawa, and numerous other projects across Kansas, officials said Tuesday.

State and federal officials sounded the alarm about a projected $4.3 billion shortfall in the federal highway fund that if not addressed could result in a cut of $130 million to $150 million to Kansas for road projects.

If the cuts occurred, “without question it is going to delay some projects or eliminate some projects,” Kansas Transportation Secretary Deb Miller said.

Miller said no decisions have been made on what would be cut, but she included a list of projects that would be let during the budget cycle that starts in October 2008, saying those would be considered.

That list included grading and bridge work from the Douglas-Franklin county line north 11 miles, along with surfacing work for a total of $110 million.

The list also included $4.5 million for research and development of advanced vehicle technology concepts at Kansas University, and $400,000 for a bike and pedestrian path along K-10 between Douglas and Johnson counties.

Among other projects were the $2.5 million reconstruction of an interchange at U.S. Highway 73 and 20th Street in Leavenworth, the $2 million reconstruction of De Soto Road in Lansing, and the $5.6 million replacement of the Topeka Boulevard Bridge in Topeka.

The funding problem is attributed to a slump in sales tax revenue from heavy truck sales that feeds into the highway fund, according to Peter J. “Jack” Basso, director of management and business development for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Basso said an increase in the motor vehicle fuels tax to bridge the shortfall is politically impossible.

But the Senate Finance Committee has approved a stopgap measure to shore up the highway fund. That includes increasing enforcement of fuel tax evasion, dipping into the federal general fund and getting credit for monies spent on emergency relief operations.

But Basso said President Bush opposes the measure, saying that highway officials should consider more toll roads and public-private partnerships as alternative ways to finance projects.

Basso urged state officials to contact their congressional representatives and ask them to work on the problem.

“It’s going to take some real grass-roots effort,” he said.

State Sen. Les Donovan, R-Wichita and chairman of the state Senate Transportation Committee, said even if the highway fund were fixed for the next fiscal year, it will face more shortfalls in the future because of the demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

In addition to sales taxes from heavy trucks, the federal highway fund is financed through motor vehicle fuel taxes.