I-93 Message Board in NH Displays Anti-Biden Message
Politics met road construction when an explicit message about President Joe Biden was displayed on an electronic highway message board Sunday morning.
The message "F Biden" appeared on the board along Interstate 93 southbound in Manchester, approaching a work zone on the shoulder near Candia Road, according to New Hampshire Department of Transportation spokesman Richard Arcand. It was first noticed between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
The message was supposed to read "Shoulder closed," for the ongoing work.
The state traffic management center sent a crew out to turn the board sideways so it was not visible from the highway.
"It's unfortunate that it happened, but we caught it quickly, shut it down quickly," Arcand told Seacoast Current. "We'll be talking with the contractors this week probably to make sure they follow the procedures to make sure they're locked up. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop someone who is determined to do this kind of damage."
Arcand said the board, which is owned by the contractor, is not connected to the internet. The board's message is programmed by the contractor, and typically locked up afterwards. Arcand was not familiar with how the message is actually programmed onto the board.
"We're guessing it was vandalized," Arcand told Seacoast Current.
WMUR was first to learn of the message.
Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH