MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation was 140 million dollars over budget on road projects in the last seven years.

The reason is due to ineffective management and insufficient controls.

That's according to an internal audit obtained by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The audit found that often, MnDOT managers expanded construction contracts without written justification, or without competitive bids.

Auditor Daniel Kahnke says the concerns are significant.

The audit reviewed projects from 1999 through mid-2006. It shows contractors and consultants often received millions beyond their original bids. That, while MnDOT delayed projects because of a lack of funding.

MnDOT said it is training managers to be more vigilant.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)