DOT announces road work plans in western ND

The North Dakota Department of Transportation announced today that a repair plan is in place and construction work for temporary traffic bypasses will start next week on N.D. Highway 22 north of Killdeer and other western state highways.

The team conducted an on-site evaluation of segments on N.D. Highway 22 approximately 20 miles north of Killdeer, N.D. Highway 8 near Twin Buttes, and N.D. Highway 73, approximately 24 miles east of Watford City, that are closed due to recent damage caused by additional moisture and wet conditions this winter and spring. The review team also evaluated a section of U.S. Highway 85, approximately one mile north of Long X Bridge, to assess a landslide near the roadway.

The repair projects include the building of temporary bypasses near the roadways to enable traffic to move through the area until permanent repair work is completed on the damaged highways.

“The NDDOT is working hard to get traffic moving in the areas damaged by landslides from the unusually wet conditions,” stated Francis Ziegler, NDDOT director. “Work will begin immediately and bypasses will be constructed as soon as weather and road conditions allow.”

The temporary bypass construction and repair projects for the following highways include:

· N.D. Highway 22, approximately two miles south of Mandaree

* Temporary one-lane bypass constructed and open to traffic in one week, speeds will be reduced to 25 mph and traffic controlled by flaggers.

* The temporary bypass will be expanded to two lanes within one month to allow for two-way traffic. Permanent repair work on roadway will be completed this year.

·N.D. Highway 22, approximately 20 miles north of Killdeer

* Temporary two-lane bypass constructed within the next month. Speeds will be reduced to 25 mph. Permanent repair work will be completed within 2012 construction season.

·N.D. Highway 8 near Twin Buttes

* Temporary two-lane bypass constructed and open to traffic in one week, speeds will be reduced to 25 mph. Permanent repair work completed within 2012 construction season.

·N.D. Highway 73, approximately 24 miles east of Watford City

* Temporary two-lane bypass within the next month and speeds will be reduced to 25 mph. Permanent repair work completed within 2012 construction season.

· U.S. Highway 85, approximately one mile north of Long X Bridge

* Within the next week, three lanes of traffic will be reduced to two lanes, eliminating the climbing lane, due to a land slide encroaching the highway. Speeds will be reduced to 45 mph. The NDDOT will continue to monitor and evaluate the highway conditions.

Additional moisture and wet conditions in the area have been the major cause of these landslides that have encroached on roadways in western North Dakota.

The NDDOT currently has the following detours in place while temporary bypasses are being constructed:

N.D. Highway 22 detour:

Northbound traffic: Head west on N.D. Hwy 200 to N.D. Hwy 85. Turn north onto U.S. Hwy 85 to Watford City. Turn east onto N.D. Hwy 23 to New Town.

Southbound traffic: Head west on N.D. Hwy 23 to Watford City. Turn south onto U.S. Hwy 85 at Watford City to N.D. Highway 200. Turn east onto N.D. Hwy 200 to Killdeer.

I-94 eastbound traffic: Exit at Belfield (Exit 42). Then go north on U.S. Hwy 85 to Watford City. Turn east on N.D. Hwy 23 to New Town.

N.D. Highway 8 detour:

Northbound traffic: Head east on N.D. Highway 1806 at the closure point, to Mercer County Road 1. Turn north onto Mercer County Road 1 to BIA Road 22. Take BIA Road 22 west back to N.D. Highway 8.

Southbound traffic: Head east onto BIA Road 22 to Mercer County Road 1. Turn south onto Mercer County Road 1 to N.D. Highway 1806. Take N.D. Highway 1806 west to N.D. Highway 8.

The roads are closed for the safety of the traveling public and are not traversable at this time. When a road is closed it is illegal to go around barricades and motorists can be fined.

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