RALEIGH, N.C. -- Higher gas prices have people driving less and riding more mass transit, but that's causing big problems for North Carolina's Department of Transportation.

The possibility of big cuts in federal road funding prompted the State DOT to order a hiring freeze for 1,700 open positions with the state agency.

But the impact of the freeze won't affect just employees – drivers around the state may feel the pinch as well.

"We've had to back off on some of the routine maintenance activities across the state by about 20 percent," said DOT spokesperson Ernie Seneca.

With the public buying less gas, the department is getting less money from state and federal gas taxes. That means less money for road construction, bridge repairs and pothole filling.

In North Carolina, the highway budget may fall by $300 million.

AAA experts predicted the problem.

"The legislators capped the gas tax and so therefore it might have been a smart thing to do as far as everybody's concerned, but in the long-run, we're paying the price," said AAA Carolina's spokesperson Charlene Edwards.

The frozen job openings range from administrative assistants to land surveyors.

"What it means is that our folks will have to do more with less," Seneca added.

There will be exceptions for critical vacancies like bridge inspectors and other positions involving the public's safety. Other positions will need a department's supervisor to justify filling the position.

"The supervisor will have to make an argument as to why a certain position is crucial and needs to be filled and that will be on a case-by-case basis," Seneca said. "It's a blanket freeze."

As for road projects, the DOT is looking at various funding options to see what projects will be delayed or cut.

Today, Congress approved $8 billion for the Highway Trust Fund. Now President Bush must sign the bill. That money will give short-term relief to struggling transportation agencies across the nation.