Late October is still construction season in North Dakota, and this week crews are focusing on bridges. If you drive I-29 in the Red River Valley or highways near Williston, Hazen, Harvey, or Lisbon, you may run into a flagger and a slower speed limit. Here’s what’s happening and how to handle it.
Nine Bridges, Nine Days
The North Dakota Department of Transportation announced on October 15 that in-depth bridge inspections will take place on nine bridges between October 20 and 28. These inspections use specialized ultrasonic equipment to examine the structure closely. Flaggers will guide traffic where needed, and NDDOT expects reduced speeds and minimal delays. The schedule:
- Oct. 20: 57th Street Bridge over Little Muddy Creek near Williston, and the Knife River Bridge on Highway 200 near Hazen
- Oct. 21: BNSF Railroad bridge on Highway 3 in Harvey
- Oct. 22: BNSF Railroad bridge on Highway 281 near Churchs Ferry
- Oct. 23: Pembina River Bridge on I-29 near Pembina
- Oct. 24: Park River Bridge on I-29 near Drayton
- Oct. 26: Southbound I-29 service road over the Park River near Drayton (12-foot width restriction)
- Oct. 27: Northbound I-29 service road over the Park River near Drayton
- Oct. 28: Sheyenne River Bridge on Highway 32 in Lisbon
NDDOT’s advice is simple: slow down through the work zone and stay alert for crews and equipment. And if a recent ticket has already added points to your record, the North Dakota Defensive Driving Point Reduction Course can help. More on that below.
Why Short Work Zones Catch Drivers Off Guard
A one-day bridge inspection isn’t a months-long construction project with miles of warning signs. That’s what makes it risky. Drivers who travel a route every day may not expect a flagger, a lane shift, or a truck with a boom parked on the bridge deck. On a long, open stretch of highway, it’s easy to be at full speed when the first sign appears.
How to Drive a Work Zone
- Slow down at the first sign. Lower speeds are posted for a reason. Reach the reduced speed before you reach the workers.
- Watch the flagger, not your phone. Flaggers control traffic with a paddle and hand signals. Be ready to stop, and don’t move until you’re waved through.
- Expect sudden stops. Leave extra space behind the vehicle ahead. Rear-end crashes are common in work zones.
- Respect width limits. The October 26 service road restriction is 12 feet. If you’re towing a wide trailer or driving farm equipment, plan another route.
- Merge early and smoothly. Don’t race to the end of a closing lane.
- Check before you leave. NDDOT says you can call 511 or view the ND Roads map at travel.dot.nd.gov for current road and weather conditions.
How Speeding Points Add Up in North Dakota
Speeding in a work zone puts workers at risk, and it can also put points on your record. NDDOT’s points schedule sets speed points by how far over the limit you were:
- In zones of 65 mph or less: 11 to 15 mph over is 1 point, 16 to 20 over is 3 points, and 21 to 25 over is 5 points. It climbs fast after that.
- In zones over 65 mph: 6 to 10 mph over is 1 point, 11 to 15 over is 3 points, and 16 to 20 over is 5 points.
Those points matter. According to NDDOT, drivers with 12 or more points have their driving privileges suspended for 7 days for each point over 11. For drivers under 18, the license or driving privileges are canceled at 6 points.
Reducing Points
NDDOT also explains how points come off your record:
- Time: one point comes off for every three months without a new point violation.
- A defensive driving course: an NDDOT-approved course can reduce your total points by 3, once every 12 months.
If you’ve already picked up points, a course can help bring your total down. For more background, read our guide to North Dakota’s defensive driving point reduction program.
The Bottom Line
These inspections are short, but the risk to crews is real. Slow down when you see the signs, follow the flagger, and leave room to stop. A few extra seconds at a bridge beats a ticket, points, or worse.
Defensive Drivers Institute’s North Dakota course is NDDOT-approved, online, and self-paced, with an instant certificate and automatic reporting to NDDOT.
Have points on your North Dakota record? Start the point reduction course.
