The North Dakota Department of Transportation announced on Apr. 2 that construction will start Monday, April 6, on U.S. Highway 52 south of Portal.
The project will add passing lanes at eight locations from south of Portal to north of the intersection with Highway 5 and US 52. Drainage structures will be extended at mile markers 17-19 and 23-24 to allow for roadway widening. According to the announcement, shoulder work will begin first, but eventually traffic on US 52 will be reduced to one lane. Flaggers and pilot cars are expected to guide vehicles through the work zone as needed.
A speed limit reduction to 45 miles per hour and a width restriction of fourteen feet during culvert work are planned for safety reasons. The department said the project is expected to finish this fall. “The North Dakota Department of Transportation would like to remind motorists to slow down and use caution throughout the work zone,” officials said in a statement.
The North Dakota Department of Transportation manages eight district offices across the state for roadway maintenance, construction oversight, and administrative services, according to the official website. The agency aims to facilitate safe transport while advancing travel safety, quality service, and economic progress according to its official website.
Executive leadership at the department includes a director and deputy directors who oversee engineering, administration, planning, and driver services per its official website. Services provided by the department include vehicle registration, driver licensing, maintenance of more than 8,500 miles of roadways and nearly five thousand bridges per its official site.
As a state agency responsible for developing and maintaining surface transportation systems in North Dakota according to its official website, this project is part of ongoing efforts by the department’s eight district offices covering statewide roadway needs as reported by its official site.
