Budget woes are forcing the Wyoming Department of Transportation to keep moving away from expensive construction projects.

Pat Persson, a WYOT district engineer in Laramie County, told legislators that the cash-strapped agency has abandoned many costly projects in favor of "pavement preservation" work that seeks to maintain the condition of the state's most valuable roads.

“This means the (roads) we have that are not in too good of shape will continue to deteriorate,” he said. “We know this will not be acceptable to the public.”