Unless Gov. Terry McAuliffe moves soon to address problems with two legacy P3 toll road projects in Virginia, the political storm rising over provisions of the contracts signed by previous administrations for U.S. Route 460 and the Midtown Tunnel could take the P3 option off the table, observers say.

If so, the Hampton Roads region, which has been most vocal in challenging tolls and P3s, could lose the ability to finance and build the expensive bridges and tunnels it needs to support its fragile economy.