A long-awaited project to ease congestion at the Interstates 80/680 interchange could become a road to nowhere under new Buy America regulations, transportation officials said.

Solano Transportation Authority Deputy Executive Director Janet Adams said new portions of the federal Buy America regulations threaten the agency's efforts to put the project out to bid this summer.

The $700 million project involves an overall reconstruction of the I-80/680 and Highway 12 interchange in Fairfield. Planned in seven segments, the work includes replacing the Green Valley Road interchange and placing new interchanges at Jameson Canyon and Red Top roads.

"We don't have a clear path," Adams said of navigating through the new Buy America regulations. "We're trying to evaluate our options and meet with agencies that were involved and try to find a workable solution."

Enacted last October, the new Buy America amendments require public agencies to buy domestically made products for all infrastructure work or else lose governmental funding. Previously, the act applied only to project portions receiving federal funding.

In addition, the buying requirements now apply to public utility agreements needed when electric and gas lines must be moved -- a major portion of the upcoming interchange work in Fairfield, Adams said.

A major hurdle the STA must cross is figuring out how to amend utility agreements the agency signed with Pacific Gas &

Buy America regulations.

A deadline to modify the agreement looms. The California Transportation Commission in May will consider allocating $35 million to help fund the project's first phase.

STA officials have said that PG&E must sign a new utility agreement reflecting the Buy America regulations before the project can move forward.

Though Adams said PG&E has indicated the agency cannot modify its agreements to accommodate Buy America, a spokeswoman said Wednesday the agency intends to comply with the new laws.

"We are seeing what we can do," PG&E spokeswoman Brandi Ehlers said. "We are currently developing policies and procedures" to take Buy America laws into account.

Contact staff writer Sarah Rohrs at srohrs@timesheraldonline.com or (707) 553-6832. Follow her on Twitter @SarahVTH. ------ (c)2013 Times-Herald (Vallejo, Calif.) Visit Times-Herald (Vallejo, Calif.) at www.timesheraldonline.com