Oklahoma’s senior transportation official was in Washington yesterday to tell a Senate panel that delays in federal highway funding could lead to higher traffic fatalities.

State transportation director Gary Ridley told members of the public works committee yesterday a 34 percent cut in road dollars endorsed by House Republicans would have a devastating effect on Oklahoma.

Ridley told U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe the state would lose as much as $800 million, which would disrupt Oklahoma’s eight-year road and bridge construction program.

Inhofe and Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer have put together a two-year plan to keep highway funding at its current level, but it’s expected to cost the government $12 billion.