Episode Details

Tennessee just approved a $9.2 billion highway expansion project with a twist: drivers will pay to use new tolled lanes, while the contractor, DriveTN, gets to hand over $24.8 billion in future payments to the state. But controversy swirls around the deal’s timing — a top TDOT official, Steve Townsend, left his post just before bidding began and immediately joined DriveTN’s parent company, Ferrovial Cintra, raising eyebrows about potential conflicts. Though TDOT insists strict protocols blocked Townsend from involvement and that all bidders were thoroughly vetted under a new law designed for speed and efficiency, lawmakers are questioning whether the consortium’s shaky financial history makes this “best value” pick too risky. The deal remains active, with details still under wraps.

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