The Times Union [1] reports that a combination of skyrocketing construction costs and a dramatically less traffic is prompting the New York Thruway Authority [2] to scale back projects in a $2.1 billion capital plan.

The Thruway Authority approved new toll hikes to take effect in January 2009 and 2010 to cover the rising costs of repairs.Traffic has been steadily declining since the beginning of the year culminating with the largest numbers in June, when there was a 5% drop. Added up, this means through March, toll revenue was about $4.5 million short of budget projections.

Lower revenue coupled with rising construction costs means "less full-depth reconstruction," says Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael Fleischer who continues, "instead of replacing a bridge, we will rehabilitate a bridge. Instead of a 50-year solution, we'll have a 20-year solution."