The North Dakota Department of Transportation’s (NDDOT) mission is to safely move people and goods. The department’s purpose is to strategically plan, construct and maintain the state’s transportation network to ensure continued safety of the traveling public. The NDDOT understands that its mission is important to the state’s economic growth and citizens’ quality of life.Transportation has always been important, and bridges are an integral part of a transportation network that safely moves people and goods. The roadways, bridges and paths are  connections to destinations that  are imperative to daily life.

NDDOT has a comprehensive bridge inspection program to ensure the safety of bridges. Following the 35W Minnesota bridge collapse  in August 2007, the NDDOT reviewed its inspection process and conducted an interim bridge inspection to ensure the continued safety of the traveling public. North Dakota also conducts inspections through a regular two-year cycle on  state, urban and county bridges, and provides bridge inspection reports to cities and counties to whom the bridges on the urban and county system ultimately belong. Repairs, maintenance and replacement on the state system are the NDDOT’s responsibility.

As of June 23, 2008, North Dakota has a total of 4,978 bridges, which include bridges on three systems: state, urban and county.

• 1,714 bridges are on the State Highway System – bridges on I-29, I-94 and other higher traffic volume highways.
• 104 bridges are on the Urban Highway System – bridges on highways located in a city.
• 3,160 bridges are on the County Highway System – bridges on county and rural roads

The anniversary of the Minnesota bridge collapse is a time to reflect on the past year as well as look to the future of America’s transportation system and the purpose it serves. At this time, the nation is looking for answers to questions about bridges, and the assurance that the bridges they cross every day are safe. Click on the questions below to learn more about North Dakota and its bridges. If you have additional questions, please contact the NDDOT at dot@nd.gov.

What has the NDDOT done to ensure the safety of N.D. bridges over the past year?

Frequently Asked Bridge Questions

Additional Bridge Information

Bridge Pictures

Bridge Video (15m wmv)

Bridge Terminology Definitions

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