New York state transportation agencies have qualified four of five design-build teams that sought places on the short-list to build the estimated $5-billion-plus replacement of the aging Tappan Zee bridge across the Hudson River, north of New York City.

State Thruway Authority and Dept. of Transportation officials disclosed in a Feb. 7 announcement that five teams were vying for technical, financial and management qualification, among other criteria. But they did not confirm reports from executives close to the competition that a team headed by Italy’s Impregilo SA and U.S.-based Halmar was not selected to proceed.