Gov. Rick Snyder is looking at the possible activation of National Guard heavy equipment operators as an option to resume more than 160 road projects across the Michigan stalled by a lockout.

Snyder spokesman Ari Adler told The Detroit News that the governor "is looking at what options are available to finish projects as quickly as possible."

Another option would be withholding payments for contractors on the projects, Adler told The News.

Discussions to end the more than 2-week-old lockout appeared to be falling apart.

Operating Engineers Local 324, which has been without a contract since June 1, on Thursday said Snyder's office and the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association "reneged" on a verbal agreement that would have allowed work to resume on more than 160 road projects across the state.

MITA and the governor's office are calling the union's claims false. The association said an agreement was "never finalized."

The state, which is not a party to the dispute and has met with the dueling groups separately in an effort to get workers back on the job, said in a statement that "neither side accepted our numerous offers to help find a resolution."

Operating Engineers 324 said in a statement Thursday that it requested a direct meeting with Snyder to put an end to what it calls MITA's "involuntary layoff of road builders across the state," but was denied.

If the standoff continues, it could stymie the term-limited Republican governor's efforts to make progress on his top priority: much-needed road work. Michigan has budgeted record spending to repair its crumbling roads, which could take another beating with winter coming.

Snyder spokesman Ari Adler said the governor's staff proposed that the groups revive the expired contract through December to finish construction projects that were scheduled this year. That would be followed by professional mediation.

"Gov. Snyder's team has been working in good faith to end a standoff that has jeopardized the safety of motorists and workers. This unacceptable work stoppage has resulted in road projects sitting idle at a time when historic levels of road funding should see work accelerating, not slowing down," the governor's office said in a statement.

Last week, Snyder said Michigan's transportation department and other agencies have limited legal authority because the dispute is between contractors and their employees.

The National Labor Relations Board, an independent U.S. government agency, has been called on to expedite its review of unfair labor practice charges that have been filed, according to Snyder's office.

The impasse began when MITA, a statewide trade association that consists of more than 500 construction companies, instituted a "defensive lockout" Sept. 4 to pressure the union into signing an industry-proposed contract. About 1,000 union workers have been off the job since then.

OE Local 324 says it does not want to work with MITA and instead wants to sign contracts directly with road construction companies.

The Michigan Department of Transportation said that more than 160 state and local projects were affected by the work stoppage, including the $220 million I-75 bridge project and $90 million reconstruction of I-696.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.