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October 23, 2006 9:20 AM, EDT

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plan to build privately backed express toll lanes in the Capital Beltway around Washington has become more expensive and may require up to $100 million in public funds, the Washington Post reported Monday.

The 14-mile project on Interstate 95/495 around the nation’s capital would create the first network of express toll lanes around Washington. Virginia may be willing to contribute funds, the paper reported.

The proposed plan would add four high-occupancy toll lanes from Springfield, Va., at the south point of the Beltway to the west side of the Beltway.

The plan to add express lanes was first designed in 2003 and last year private groups said they would finance the project without using public funds. (Click here for previous coverage.)

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