In order to resume the expressway project, the federal government decided to fund the expressway project themselves and once again approached MTD Group as the new concessionaire company for the East Coast Expressway. A letter of intention was sent by the federal government to MTD Group on 1 March 2000, and the new concession contract was signed on 17 January 2001. MTD Group was chosen as the new concessionaire company for being able to offer the lowest construction cost for the expressway project. The construction of the East Coast Expressway began shortly afterwards.