The Nebraska Legislature’s Performance Audit Committee has concluded that road and bridge projects are almost always chosen based on need, and not political pressure. The committee says in a report that most projects are selected by a data-driven analysis of where they’re most needed.

Monty Fredrickson worked in the Department of Roads for over 40 years, 17 as deputy director and the last 3 as director before retiring in August.

He told lawmakers earlier this year that 90% of the projects in his 2 decades with the department were chosen based on need, with the other 10% were based on less predictable factors, such as available funding and public support for a project but with only “miniscule” public pressure.

Fredrickson also said he could not recall a single situation where an elected official had pressured him to choose or prioritize a specific project.