Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced that his administration would ask private companies to build more lanes on congested highways then recoup the costs through tolls.

The lanes would be privately built, but publicly owned, The Associated Press reported. When paid for, the fees would stop for highway users.

Pawlenty said the Minnesota Department of Transportation would issue an official request for interest from private companies. The list of possible corridors so far is limited to freeways in the northern and western Twin Cities.

It would be at least four years before any new lanes might be ready for traffic, local media reported.

The state has the authority to go forward with the plan for state highways if there are interested companies. Interstates are a cloudier issue and Minnesota may need federal approval.

U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, R-MN, has introduced legislation in Congress that would repeal a federal prohibition against adding toll lanes to existing interstate highways.

No estimates on how much tolls might be have been provided.

State Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, told The AP the plan was a “neat idea,” but said it raised more questions than it answered.

She said it was more important to look at the bigger picture and what could be done long-term to address congestion and road problems statewide. She suggested that raising the fuel tax might need to be part of the solution.

Pawlenty, however, said the fuel tax wasn’t the best way to fund transportation projects anymore because cars and trucks are becoming more fuel efficient.“We’re about looking to the future,” he said.