Expect the state highways to get worse -- bumpier, more patches, worn shoulders -- unless state leaders figure out how to raise more money for maintenance, state senators were told Wednesday.

About 84 percent of highways are in good to excellent condition. But the state isn't getting enough money from the gas tax, vehicle sales tax and the federal government to maintain them at that level, said Monty Fredrickson, roads department director.

Fifty percent of state roads will be in good condition by 2029 unless more money goes toward maintenance, Fredrickson told members of two legislative committees dealing with the budget and road issues.

In addition, there will be no money for new roads, if the budget stays around $320 million.

Without any increase in funding, all funding will go toward preserving the current 10,000-mile state system, Fredrickson said in his annual legislative report.

That means the expressway system won't be finished. The interstate between Lincoln and Minden will remain four lanes, though the agency expects within 20 years the traffic west of Lincoln will reach the 36,000 vehicles per day level, where six lanes are recommended.

"We may have to live with a higher level of traffic density west of Lincoln than would be ideal," Fredrickson said.

Maintaining to the 84 percent level is also the least expensive option in the long run, based on agency computer modeling, according to Fredrickson.

"It's like painting your house every seven years." It saves money in the long run. If you wait too long, the wood deteriorates, you have larger and more expensive problems to fix, he said.

Funding has always been a problem, based on these annual reports to the Legislature. But historically, the problem was finding enough money to widen and improve roads or add new roads.

In the last few years, the agency has begun pointing out it will not have enough money to simply maintain the current system.

"I'm concerned about safety when we go to 50 percent," said Sen. Deb Fischer, chairman of the Legislature's Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. The committee will have a report finished in early December, based on hearings across the state seeking ideas for road funding.

"We have to be very serious about finding methods to grow Nebraska, otherwise we are going to have a state with bad roads and getting worse," said Sen. Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center.

Reach Nancy Hicks at 473-7250 or nhicks@journalstar.com.