The top executives of two national organizations warned that a severe federal funding shortage for roads and bridges is imminent. Their remarks came during yesterday's opening of the 25th annual International Bridge Conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Unless Congress and the Bush administration deal with the problem before the current federal fiscal year ends Sept. 30, states will receive about one-third -- $13.5 billion -- less during the following 12 months, said Peter Ruane, president and chief executive officer of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

If public officials do not patch the federal transportation funding bill known as SAFETEA-LU for fiscal 2009, "the cupboard will be bare," said John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Pennsylvania stands to lose $543.5 million in federal funds. Cuts in road building, repair and maintenance programs would cost an estimated 18,000 jobs.

The loss of funding couldn't come at a worse time because highway and bridge needs are growing as construction costs erode the purchasing power of transportation dollars, Mr. Horsley said.

"Higher energy, asphalt, concrete and steel costs are killing us," he said.

Mr. Horsley, Mr. Ruane and U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Thomas J. Barrett were keynote speakers at the three-day bridge conference, the world's largest, organized by the Engineering Society of Western Pennsylvania and featuring a record 170 exhibitors and 99 technical sessions.

Mr. Ruane, whose organization represents 5,000 public- and private-sector members with a stake in the highway and bridge program, said that in addition to the short-term funding shortage, prospects are even dimmer for the long term if the United States doesn't increase revenue. The association has recommended an increase of 10 cents per gallon to the federal fuel tax -- currently 18.4 cents -- with future increases tied to inflation.

China is building 42,000 miles of interstate-type roads and India is building 25,000, while the United States is on line to add 1,130 miles through 2020, he said, affecting congestion, commerce and business competition.

"One thing is clear: We lack a vision and consensus to spur greater investment in transportation," Mr. Ruane said. "We view the next battle [over the next highway funding legislation] as the most difficult in 50 years," since the United States launched the interstate highway program during the Eisenhower administration.