RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s aggressive push to build a toll road parallel to U.S. 460 from Suffolk to Petersburg may wind up costing taxpayers between $400 million to $500 million — with no road to show for it.

Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne told perturbed lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday that while he’s confident some form of the project will ultimately be built, there’s a slight chance it won’t. In that case, Layne said, the public could be on the hook for up to $500 million.