According to local sources, the State Transportation Board of Georgia has selected Northwest Express Roadbuilders to design, build and finance the Northwest Corridor toll lanes project for $840 million, $100 million less than original projections.

The board accepted a bid of $599 million from Northwest Express Roadbuilders. The other $241 million of the total price includes right of way acquisition, administrative expenses and the portion of the project to be done by the State Road and Tollway Authority.

The vote authorized the DOT's legal staff to negotiate a contract with Northwest Express Roadbuilders. That agreement is scheduled to return to the board for a vote in October.

Northwest Express Roadbuilders includes Archer Western Contractors LLC, and Hubbard Construction Co. and Parsons Transportation Group Inc. as lead engineering firm.

Three other teams had been shortlisted in August 2012:

• Georgia Transportation Partners - comprised of Bechtel Infrastructure Corp., Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., Dewberry and Davis, LLC, and STV Inc.;
• Flour-Lane LLC;
• CW Matthews Contracting Co., Inc., and the Michael Baker Corp.;

The project:

The project will consist of two reversible toll lanes along Interstate 75 from I-285 north to I-575. One reversible toll lane will be added on I-75 from I-575 north to Hickory Grove Road and along I-575 north to Sixes Road.

Construction would begin next year, and the new lanes are expected to open to traffic during the spring of 2018.