Last week, Ohio Governor-Elect John Kasich was asked by local press if he had any plans for the privatisation of state owned assets including the Ohio Turnpike.
All options were "on the table" as part of an ongoing discussion, he replied.
Kasich added that the state of the capital markets would be likely to influence any decision.
However, a spokesperson for Kasich later played down the comments. "It could have made sense years ago," he said. "It would be foolish now. We wouldn't get our money's worth in this market."
The 388km long toll highway will end the year with a record $250m in revenue, thanks to toll increases enacted in the autumn of 2009.
Kasich has previously stressed that he wasn't interested in privatising the Ohio Turnpike.