The rebuilding of westbound Interstate 20 from Edwards to the Big Black River has left the road in worse condition now than it was a year ago, before it was either Obamanated (D) or Barbourized (R) by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Before “rebuilding,” the concrete pavement had a couple of nuisance dips but other than that it was in far better shape than the bulk of Mississippi’s roads. After MDOT and its contractor removed the concrete, tromped around in the mud for a few months and put down roofing tar parking lot paving, the “rebuilt” section of road is a hybrid embryonic roller coaster with black onyx sheen and corduroy pebble surfacing.

The replaced road lasted 50 years; the replacement is only a few weeks old and already needs repairs. Before MDOT mutilates another section of one of the nation’s main thoroughfares, it should fire every state employee who had a hand in the road rebuilding. Then the state should stop or recoup any payments to the contractors and hire professionals to do the roadwork.

Money is tight and times are hard. There is no excuse for using amateurs and shoddy workmanship on our highways.

Jon Duke

Vicksburg