PORTLAND – The Interstate 295 connector across Portland, an extension of Interstate 95 and a proposed east-west highway from Calais to New Hampshire are among the road projects at stake as Congress debates how to divvy up billions of dollars in funding for the next six years.

Maine’s congressional delegation promises to fight for those dollars and to protect the state’s share of funding.

Sen. Olympia Snowe and Rep. Mike Michaud, who serve on transportation committees in each chamber, vowed to mold the federal distribution formula so the state could get more funding for its projects.

“This is extremely important for the state of Maine,” said Michaud, a Democrat. “I think there’s general consensus that highway projects are crucial to economic development.”

Maine expects $148.9 million in federal highway funding to go toward large projects this year. State officials assign priorities to projects based on safety concerns, development and local support.

“It’s a long-term process,” said Greg Nadeau, director of the state transportation office of policy and communications. “You chip away at them over funding cycles.”

State officials hope federal funds will pay for about half the costs of an I-295 connector between Congress and Commercial streets in Portland. The state still will need about another $9 million during construction over the next three years.

Other projects seeking federal funding are a $30 million bypass around Gorham village and $16 million to $17 million each for rebuilding I-295 interchanges at Franklin Street and Forest Avenue in Portland The northward extension of I-95 received $4.5 million for planning this year.

The proposed east-west highway received $1.5 million this year for study. The costs of a four-lane road along the Route 9 corridor could reach $1 billion, but in the meantime, the state takes on small pieces, such as the Interstate 395 extension in Brewer that eventually could become part of the highway.