A crew with Lehman-Roberts Company works on Highway 278 in Lafayette County, Mississippi. The project received federal funds, and highlights that transportation improvements are a shared responsibility in America. (Photo courtesy of Roger Hickam)
Mike Pepper
Part One of a Two-Part Series -- Aging bridges in Mississippi prove how much infrastructure is a bread-and-butter issue. More than half of the population lives in rural areas, and the state is among the poorest in the nation, having received between $2 and $3 for every dollar it sends to the federal government.
Federal leaders are discussing and wrangling over federal infrastructure investment. But in places such as Mississippi, a lack of sustainable funding directly impacts businesses and communities facing ongoing transportation challenges.