Travel alert issued for south central N.D., including Jamestown, Valley City, Edgeley areas; expands to include areas east of Bismarck and around Fargo and Grand Forks

The North Dakota Department of Transportation has issued a Travel Alert for south central North Dakota including the cities of Jamestown, Valley City, Edgeley, Ellendale and surrounding areas due to blowing snow sticking to the roadways causing areas of scattered slush, compacted snow, and continuous ice.

The alert was later expanded to include the Fargo, Casselton and Wahpeton areas, the Grand Forks area and the area east of Bismarck including the cities of McClusky, Steele and Napoleon.

Conditions are such that motorists can still travel in these areas, but should be advised that wet roads may turn to ice as temperatures drop overnight and challenging winter driving conditions may exist. Motorists are encouraged to reduce speeds and drive according to the conditions.

For road information, call 511 from any type of phone or go to the website: www.dot.nd.gov.

NDDOT releases information to inform the public about travel conditions throughout the state. The three categories are as follows:

1. Travel alerts are issued to alert motorists that areas of challenging winter driving conditions may be encountered on roadways. Conditions are such that motorists can still travel; however, they should be aware that rapidly changing conditions may result in travel delays due to reduced speeds and visibility.

2. No-travel advisories are issued when conditions warrant no travel but not a road closure. No Travel Advisories have the potential to change to a Road Closure if conditions deteriorate. No-travel advisories are issued for public safety to encourage motorists not to venture out onto the roads. Motorists should take no-travel advisories seriously. Conditions change often during a storm event and motorists may become stranded if they are caught between destinations.

3. Roads are closed when conditions create a life-threatening danger to motorists. The roadway is impassable and it is against the law to drive past a road closure device on a closed road. Motorists should obey road closures, even when a sign or a gate is not present.

Road condition information on 511 and the travel map is updated daily from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. CST. The road report is based upon the information available to the NDDOT at the time of preparation and is provided solely as a public service. Conditions may vary from those reported.

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