Fewer companies bid on leasing Alligator Alley
By LESLIE WILLIAMS

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

It appears state transportation officials have had a bit of their work done for them.

Teams interested in bidding on a possible lease of Alligator Alley re-submitted statements of qualifications by a Wednesday deadline, and the list is slimmer than the one announced in June.

This is the second time the state has requested statements of qualifications from interested firms, following a round in June that officials said left too many questions unanswered.

Now, as Florida Department of Transportation officials scrutinize the new list, they have fewer firms to cull through before announcing a short list at the end of the month. Eight teams expressed interest during the first round, but just six threw their hats in the ring as of the Wednesday deadline.

“We’re not surprised at all,â€