"Our intention is to fully fund the capital program, but I think we owe the taxpayers and motoring public a little of the forthrightness when we say we don't have the money to do this," Kolluri said.

The design portion of the causeway project will cost $16 million and was to begin in 2011, Kolluri said. Construction of the causeway bridges was planned to begin with a pricetag of $189 million.

"These bridges are very important components of our transportation network and they connect important places. They are aging and need to be replaced. It's not enough to tell people that we are going to do something, and not have the money," he said.

The response from the Senate budget committee to Kolluri's testimony is what should be expected, he said.

"Everyone wants to know what the solution is," he said. "The governor has asked for alternative revenue sources, but wants to finish the budget first. I will say plainly and clearly this isn't a problem that is fixed solely by the state DOT. It will need to be fixed by the administration, the legislature and the public."

Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, said this week that he wants the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to consider increasing tolls 45 percent to 50 percent to pay to widen the turnpike and parkway and repair bridges on them.

He said he'll also push for another 50 percent toll increase in five years and for adding tolls to Interstates 78 and 80 at the Pennsylvania border.

Sen. Christopher Connors, R-Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic, said he is skeptical. A toll increase would hit Ocean and Monmouth County motorists the hardest, Connors said.

"The administration says they want alternative sources of funding and will review them but they don't; they dismiss them," Connors said. "There is going to be no alternative accepted by this administration unless it is accompanied by raising taxes or increasing tolls."

Connors said when the state had the money to fix the bridges they didn't do it and have been delaying the project for years. Now, the state is using a scare tactic to tell the people of Long Beach Island that this is what they are not going to get, he said.

In his testimony, Kolluri told the Senate budget committee that he hopes his statement about a lack of funding is not interpreted as either a threat or an attempt to scare the public.

It is just a statement of fact, he said.

"This is the lifeline to LBI and nothing is being done. It ought to be the number one priority," Connors said.

Stafford Township Mayor Carl Block agreed.

"From the beginning this project has had many facets to do it, from a motorist's safety standpoint, but also emergency management because it is the only way on and off LBI," Block said. "This affects all of southern Ocean County tourism. I'm very disappointed to hear the project continue to keep slipping."

Block added that from an engineering perspective he does not think the state Department of Transportation has any doubts about what they plan to do with the project.

"But it all comes down to one issue - money," he said.

Due to the condition of the bridge's superstructure, the Dorland J. Henderson Bridge and those that connect to it leading on and off Long Beach Island have been deemed structurally deficient and are considered in overall poor condition, the project's details state on the New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Web site.

During inspections over the last 13 years, fatigue cracks were observed in the steel floor beam webs at several locations and spreading of cracks in the floorbeam webs have also been observed. Heavy pitting on the bridge and section loss in stringers, floorbeams and thru-girders was also noted at random locations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

To e-mail Donna Weaver at The Press:

DWeaver@pressofac.com