On Wednesday night, Rockingham County hosted a public meeting with the Commonwealth Transportation Board to discuss some major budget shortfalls.

People from all over the state were on hand to discuss why certain roadwork should continue despite of the lack of funding. Lots of people from Rockingham County turned out to speak on why it's important to widen Port Republic Road.

Fred Sheaffer lives in the area between Boyers road and the Harrisonburg city limits. He says once the new hospital facility RMH is building is finished, there will be even more traffic.

“It's going to present a terrible situation to the local residents living in the area, the commuters coming through the area, and the employees trying to get to the hospital,” say Sheaffer.

The project cost is $26 million, but it may be on the chopping block because of a 44-percent decrease in state funding.

Commonwealth Secretary of Transportation, Pierce Homer says, “We want to help the local government improve the quality of life in their communities and that can’t be done for free. It requires money.”

Homer says deciding how to go forward will be difficult, considering there is growth in the state, but not enough money to support it through roadwork improvements.

“The Commonwealth Transportation Board is going to deliver a balance budget that means making hard choices, and there will be numerous projects cut over $1.1 billion,” says Homer.

The board will make its final decision in mid June when the six-year program is adopted.