Oct/Nov On the Move

Welcome to the On the Move newsletter, your gateway to the latest developments and initiatives brought to you by the North Dakota Department of Transportation. Whether you're a commuter, a contractor, or simply interested in the future of mobility, our newsletter keeps you updated on infrastructure projects, safety measures, and innovative technologies shaping the way we move. 

Once again, we’re asking classrooms, community groups, etc. and all North Dakotans to put on their thinking caps and send us punny, witty, and creative snowplow name ideas using the button below! We want your ideas, too!

Winners will receive bragging rights for a lifetime AND have the opportunity to meet the plow they named and its driver.

Find more information on winter weather driving, the ND Roads app, and the Name-A-Plow contest at dot.nd.gov.

Submit a name 

While we’re preparing to name our plows, let’s not forget to prepare for winter driving. Here are a few tips to keep you safe on North Dakota’s winter roads:

• Slow down: Reduce your speed on snowy or icy roads. It gives you more control and more time to react if the unexpected happens.
• Leave room: Keep a safe following distance from other vehicles, especially snowplows. They’re often driving slower and kicking up snow that limits visibility.
• Stay informed: Check road conditions before heading out. The ND Roads app offers real-time information on road conditions, closures and incidents, making it easier to plan your route safely. Download it from your app store today!

So, put on your winter thinking caps, Team ND, stay safe on the roads, and may the best names “plow” through the competition! 

Past Name-A-Plow winners

The first projects funded through the Flexible Transportation Fund are wrapping this fall. One notable project was the Eastern Bypass project in Dickinson.  

The paving project connects North Dakota Highway 22 to Stark County Highway 10. Additional safety features added include turning lanes and an acceleration for vehicles turning on to Highway 10.

“This bypass in Dickinson is a great example of the local projects we aimed to accelerate when we established the Flexible Transportation Fund last year in collaboration with the state Legislature,” said Governor Doug Burgum. “We’re grateful for the partnership of Stark County on this piece of critical infrastructure, which will improve safety for motorists, enhance the movement of goods and support economic development.”

The Eastern Bypass project was one of 66 local projects selected for funding through the Flexible Transportation Fund. The NDDOT awarded $7.3 million of state funding for the bypass.

The program provided $222.5 million to the NDDOT for improvements to transportation infrastructure on and off the state highway system, including within townships, cities, counties, and tribal reservations. Total payout for local projects was approximately $84 million.

 Complete list of projects  

Eastern Bypass ribbon cutting on Oct. 1

Fargo hosted 281 attendees of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) Region 3 conference this fall. Robin Rehborg, NDDOT’s deputy director of driver safety, ended her term as Region 3 President during the convention. Several NDDOT team members were involved in planning the event and presenting during learning sessions.  

The conference was a great success, bringing together experts, insights, and ideas. With AAMVA’s vision of “Safe drivers, Safe vehicles, Secure identities, and Saving lives” at the heart of every session, the event highlighted a collective commitment to safety and innovation.  

Rehborg, Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney and North Dakota Highway Patrol Major Tom Iverson spoke at the two-day conference. Sessions included identity management, vehicle titling, driver licensing, law enforcement, operations and more.  

Amy Jacobson, quality assurance supervisor in Motor Vehicle, attended an AAMVA Conference for the first time. “Being on our home turf, I had the opportunity to collaborate closely with the AAMVA organizers,” she said. “I connected with various people. These interactions were instrumental in building relationships that will benefit me in the future.”  

We’re proud of our NDDOT team for their hard work in making this gathering impactful for all attendees, and we look forward to continued collaboration to make our roads and communities safer for everyone.  

The NDDOT and McKenzie County celebrated the completion of the U.S. Highway 85 four-lane project, from Watford City to the Long X Bridge, and adjacent shared-use path Friday, Oct. 25.

Each year, we are proud to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our employees. While some may think of us only as the place for construction projects, snowplows, or driver licenses and motor vehicle registration, we know there is so much more to our story. Our work touches lives, supports communities, and makes a lasting difference across North Dakota.

Shoutout to the following team members whose work has not gone unnoticed by their coworkers:

PRIDE Award Winner: Melyssa Diebold, Assistant Division Director of Motor Vehicle Customer Operations.

Empower People Award Winner: Jeff Jirava, Assistant Division Engineer, Construction Services.

Legacy of Learning Award Winner: Aaron Perez, Section Lead- Pavements from the Materials and Research Division.

Citizen Focus Award Winner: Aaron Auer, Dickinson’s Highway Maintenance Coordinator.

Work as One Award Winners: Flex Fund Team - Steven Barreth, Stephanie Weiand, and Sherry Hermanson.

Hero Award Winners: Grand Forks District Employee Appreciation Committee - Pam Burkes, Dustin Lang, Susan Percoski, Josh Twamley, Lee Westling, and Paul Czapiewski.  

Excellence in Innovation Award Winners: Dickinson Construction Team - Jason Fischer, Heather Brew, Denis Oyugi, Brandon Eslinger, Belinda Ballweber-Urlacher, Bonnie Brown, Jay Lutes, Shingi Makanya, and Dean Rau.

The wide array of work that goes on behind the scenes of the NDDOT is nothing short of extraordinary. This is a small snapshot of the remarkable individuals who make up our team; please help us congratulate all of the hard work our entire team has done throughout the year!

You can also catch the Employee of the Year and Safety Employee of the Year for each District and the Central Office announcements as they are announced on our social media channels. 

Our Highway 1804 Test Section project won an American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Committee on Materials and Pavement Innovation Award.

The project treated a 31-mile section of roadway south of Bismarck with nine different pavement preservation techniques. The goal is to test and compare the results of each section to determine the best mix for the state.

“The Highway 1804 test project was great opportunity to improve our transportation system and find innovative ways to make the best use of state dollars,” said NDDOT Director Ron Henke.  

Over the next five to ten years this project will be measured by NDDOT’s Planning and Asset Management Division. Properties like ride, distress, and pavement condition will be carefully assessed. 

The assessment results of each of the nine test sections will be compared based on how they perform and what they cost. The information the team obtains will help to determine what materials are used for future projects. 

Highway 1804

The NDDOT Highway Safety Division has published the 2023 Crash Summary. The annual report provides information about motor vehicle crashes, fatalities and injuries in North Dakota.

In 2023, preventable human behavior including not wearing a seat belt, alcohol and speed and/or aggressive driving contributed significantly to traffic deaths.  

The crash summary provides data on more than 10,400 vehicle crashes that resulted in in fatalities, injuries or property damage.

The data is collected by law enforcement officers who complete a crash report when a crash on a public road involved a fatality, injury or at least $4,000 in property damage.  

 2023 Crash Summary