JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Leaders with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) said the agency is facing a crisis due to the lack of funding.

MDOT’s primary source of funding is the fuel tax, but it has remained unchanged since 1987. The department also receives $80 million from the state lottery, but commissioners said it’s still not enough.

Without sustained funding, officials said many projects will have to be put on hold.

Northern Commissioner John Caldwell said this is hurting the state’s economy in the long run.

“We’re losing economic development prospects because we don’t have the capacity. I-55 North is a great example of that, and the struggle is they’re going to come in with another 500 to 1,000 more trucks per day. They want to know that truck can get on the interstate and move, not get on the interstate and park,” said Caldwell.

Central Commissioner Willie Simmons said MDOT would need $9 billion to complete unfinished projects.