A Palm Beach County transit agency is warning that the delay of a road expansion project due to a lawsuit alleging risks of environmental damage will cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.

Valerie Neilson, executive director of the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency, told the Florida Record in an email that rising costs of labor and building supplies resulting from a civil lawsuit filed last year by the city of West Palm Beach will result in the State Road 7 extension project increasing in price by nearly $50 million

“The cost of labor and cost of supplies is increasing, as is the case for all transportation projects right now,” Neilson said. “The cost of the (SR 7) project has increased from $80 million to $127.1 million due to the delay.”