The PEER Committee surveyed 622 road construction and reconstruction projects awarded between January 1970 and July 1976. The project planned length and amount of low bid were obtained on each project surveyed to determine cost per mile. The survey revealed that the Mississippi Highway Commission had adhered to a policy of awarding shorter-than-optimum projects. The result was an increased cost per mile of construction/reconstruction. This report discussed the causes and effects of this piecemealing policy and suggested corrective measures.
The policy of piecemealing road construction work was found to have cost the state a minimum of $30 million over the last five and one-half years. Assuming the total corridor construction cost of $1 billion, by awarding longer construction projects where possible, the commission could save about $70 million.
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.