Firms get time to mull Pittsburgh-area toll roads

Private bids are sought because the turnpike commission doesn’t have enough money to finish a projected 100-mile toll network. That includes the Mon-Fayette Expressway and two southern beltway projects.

The Associated Press

11/5/2008

PITTSBURGH — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is giving private firms more time to partner with it on a network of toll roads connecting the Pittsburgh area with West Virginia.

Private bids are sought because the turnpike commission doesn’t have enough money to finish the projected 100-mile toll network. That includes the Mon-Fayette Expressway and two southern beltway projects.

The deadline for initial proposals was Nov. 11, but the commission has pushed that back to Dec. 17. Final proposals are still due Jan. 15.

The commission has already spent more than $1 billion building more than 50 miles of roads. But officials think it will cost about $5 billion to finish the roads that state lawmakers tasked the commission with completing more than 20 years ago.