Low bidder announced for toll road project

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The North Carolina Turnpike Authority today said a team made of United Infrastructure Group, Boggs Paving, Anderson Columbia Co. and Rummel, Klepper & Kahl are the low bidders to build a toll road in eastern Mecklenburg County.

Bids were opened today.

The team’s bid of $367.7 million was $97 million below an estimate of $465.2 million for the project.

The 19.7-mile Monroe Connector/Bypass toll road from U.S. Highway 74 at Interstate 485 to U.S. Highway 74 near the town of Marshville in Union County is slated to open December 2014.

The contract will be awarded and construction will begin upon successful toll financing and permitting scheduled to be completed by mid-December, NCTA said.

The toll road will be the state’s second and will use an all-electronic toll collection system, eliminating stopping at tollbooths. Instead, motorists will be able to set up a prepaid account and install in their vehicle a transponder device that will debit their account when they use the road.

If a motorist does not have a transponder, cameras will take a picture of their license plate and the motorist will be mailed a bill.