LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska state board has proposed new road construction rule changes that would ease the standards that cities, counties and the state must follow when rehabilitating roadways.

The Nebraska Board of Public Roads Classifications and Standards hopes the proposed rules will allow roadwork budgets to be stretched further by eliminating right-of-way and construction costs.

The state has required that road repair projects that go beyond simple maintenance follow standards applied to new road construction. Officials say the new rules would allow governments to be less invasive in the process.

A hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Dec. 17. The Board of Public Roads Classifications and Standards will then determine whether any changes are needed before forwarding the rules to the attorney general and governor for final approval.