Amid warnings not to neglect infrastructure projects during tough economic times, Douglas County commissioners on Monday approved a $3 million reconstruction project for a busy county road northwest of Lawrence.

Commissioners also supported a plan to reduce by $500,000 the annual transfer into the reserve that funds capital improvement projects. It’s an effort to shore up more funding in this year’s budget session.

“My sense is that (administrators) are doing everything they can to give us something to work with in a tough year,” Commissioner Nancy Thellman said.

Facing a tough revenue picture, Thellman and Commissioner Jim Flory have voiced concerns about being able to address social service needs and other budget issues in coming years.

The current plan calls for the county to set aside $4 million per year from 2009 to 2011 to pay for capital improvement projects, like roads and bridges. Then in 2012, the contribution would return back to $4.5 million.

That means for those three years, commissioners would keep the $500,000 in the county’s main general fund to help with other operating expenses.

“The questions I asked: What level can we cut back in light of a recession? How far can we cut back for a few years if we have to because of a recession and not experience a bigger cost four to eight years out?” County Administrator Craig Weinaug said.

Weinaug and Assistant County Administrator Pam Madl said they feared completely neglecting road and bridge improvements for several years because costs to restore and repair infrastructure would be much higher, possibly requiring a tax increase.

The main project commissioners supported Monday was a major reconstruction of Douglas County Road 438, commonly known as the Farmers’ Turnpike northwest of Lawrence. It would widen shoulders and make other improvements from County Road 1029, south of Lecompton, east to the South Lawrence Trafficway.

Keith Browning, the county engineer and public works director, said accepting bids now could be financially favorable for the county because contractors are hungry for work and fuel prices are currently low. Plans call for improvements to be essentially done before Thanksgiving.