The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has delayed a $4.2 million road safety project following a state lawmaker raising concerns from constituents about how it impacts wide farm equipment.
According to a statement released by the NDDOT, the project is being delayed in order to make a design change. Delineators are reflective, metal posts on the roadside used to guide traffic and improve driver safety, particularly at night. Posts installed this summer on two-lane state highways where the shoulder is less than 8 feet wide will be removed and repurposed elsewhere, according to the DOT.
According to department spokesman David Finley, it is unknown how the design change will impact the project's cost. The project is expected to continue next spring with a new design to accommodate wider equipment on highways.
The NDDOT announced the project in in March, funded by federal money. The posts are used on all four-lane roads and the interstate highways in North Dakota. The project is part of the state's Vision Zero strategy for reducing traffic deaths.
Sen. Janne Myrdal noted that the delineators caused "an uprising in northeastern North Dakota."
Myrdal contacted the DOT, governor's office, and agriculture commissioner regarding the project. The design change will include "flappables" or knockdown posts, according to Myrdal.
DOT Director Bill Panos said in a statement: “It’s not uncommon to pause, reassess and implement design changes when new information becomes available. We are committed to making highways safe for all users."
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said in a statement: “After a great deal of consideration, I believe we came up with a solution that provides safety measures for the motoring public on our main roads without compromising the safe operation of equipment on North Dakota highways."
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Source: The Bismarck Tribune
