If the federal Highway Trust Fund follows projections and partially dries up at the end of the year, it will mean trouble for Wisconsin.

"If you look at it, every road program in Wisconsin has a combination of state funds and federal funds," said Tom Walker, director of government affairs for the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association. "Federal funding accounts for about 45 percent of our money, and we have a lot of projects funded by up to 80 percent by federal money.

"This would cut things by one-third."

According to projections by the Federal Highway Administration, Wisconsin stands to lose more than $196 million and more than 6,800 jobs if the trust fund is not fixed. It's something Terrance McGowan, business manager of Operating Engineers Local 139, called disheartening, but not new.

"It's the kind of hurt that creeps up on you," he said, "and it's killing us."

The battle for money and jobs already is being fought at the state level. Wisconsin's three budget cycles saw money moved from transportation to support general programs, and the state's Road to the Future Committee in 2007 said the cost to maintain Wisconsin's roads will run to almost $700 million.

Transportation officials were encouraged when more money was appropriated for transportation in the state's 2007-09 budget, and McGowan said he thinks the road builders' message is finally being heard at the state level.

"I've seen an awareness (in the state Legislature) that I've never seen before," he said. "People are really starting to understand our needs."

But no sooner is hope found at the state level then it's lost in Washington, D.C.

"And as far as the federal government goes," McGowan said. "I have no faith."

Wisconsin transportation officials go to Washington, D.C., every year with representatives from different states to get the message across, but the federal government has yet to come up with a solution.

"It's frustrating," said Mike Dehaan, field services director for the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association. "There's money in the bucket, but there are also holes. And as long as the holes are there, the bucket is never going to fill."

Thomas Fisher, president and business manager of the Wisconsin District Laborers' Council, said the problem could go far beyond transportation.

"Without infrastructure, companies aren't going to come to Wisconsin," he said. "And that's going to affect all areas of construction because the jobs just aren't going to be there anymore."