The Mississippi Infrastructure Modernization Act was passed by the Legislature last summer during a special session that provided additional funding for the agency’s infrastructure. The law mandates that the auditor’s office oversee a performance review of both the Mississippi Department of Transportation (and the Office of State Aid Construction). White’s office issued a request to bid for candidates and plans to select a company to perform the audit by mid-March. A spokesperson for White told Mississippi Today that the State Auditor’s office decided to outsource MDOT’s performance audit to draw in consulting firms with deep experience and knowledge of transportation. According to a release, “By allowing consultants across the country to bid for the proposal, the Auditor’s office aims to ensure exceptional, targeted results in a timely manner.” The audit will examine MDOT’s spending on vendors and its management of roads and bridges projects. It will also compare MDOT’s performance with other states to “identify savings and cut fat.” The audit will examine concerns regarding a controversial frontage road project that involved a Flowood neighborhood, where Lt. Governor. Tate Reeves is a resident of Flowood. The agency replied “…The auditor’s office will wait for the conclusion to the Attorney General’s investigation before taking action if necessary.”