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Kansas plans to delay future highway projects

highwayTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback’s latest budget-balancing proposals divert $385 million from state highway projects over three years, and transportation officials say some future projects will at least be delayed.

Brownback released a plan Friday to divert $151 million from highway projects to general government programs in the current budget. That’s $55 million more than the $96 million he proposed in December.

He proposed diverting an additional $115 million during the 2016 fiscal year beginning in July and $115 million again during fiscal 2017.

The state Department of Transportation said projects already scheduled under a 10-year, $8 billion highway program will not be affected. The program started in 2010.

But department spokesman Steve Swartz said $297 million in projects will at least be delayed. The projects haven’t been identified or scheduled.

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