They agreed to maintain it, but they didn’t expect to have to virtually rebuild it after ten or fifteen years. The road bed was inadequate and the concrete slabs started tilting and breaking up from the truck traffic. It took about a decade ( the 80’s ) to finish the repairs. I don’t know what kind of deals were worked out to finance it, but I do remember that it was a big issue.
“They agreed to maintain it, but they didn’t expect to have to virtually rebuild it after ten or fifteen years.”
I SERIOUSLY doubt that the feds ran the project. In any case, they could have simply refused the money at the time...if it was going to be cost them a few bucks.
Finally, I also think they WAY OVER-EXAGGERATED the cost of fixing the highway (as in the percent of their state budget - maybe 0.35 or something) - in order to get their tolling scheme started.
Rural highways are CHEAP, and they are very cheap after the right of way has been cleared and graded...and they still had that.