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Griggs County discusses DOT reply on Highway 1, County Road 8 funding and local road safety
Summary
Commissioners reviewed a North Dakota DOT response on requested Highway 1 reconstruction, discussed County Road 8 special funds and local safety concerns, and agreed to continue pursuing state support and local engineering work.
Griggs County commissioners on Sept. 8 reviewed a written response from the North Dakota Department of Transportation on requests to reconstruct portions of Highway 1 and discussed county plans for locally funded improvements on County Road 8.
The DOT letter, read at the meeting, said the department is proceeding with work on a segment west of the Junction of ND 200 north within the requested area and that the project is in the design phase with a tentative construction date in 2027. The letter described planned work on that segment as including "full-depth patching in selected areas, centerline pipe replacement at two locations, and 2.5 to 3 inches of paving," and it said construction timing depends on available federal funding.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the current roadway design and narrow shoulders present safety risks for farm machinery and other vehicles. "Someone's gonna hit one of those spots ... and up in the ditch, you're upside down," a commissioner said, describing rough sections and steep sloughs off the roadway.
Local action and funds: Commissioners discussed a special fund (designated for County Road 8) of roughly $1.3 million held for road projects and the county's need to engage an engineering firm for work that exceeds the statutory bidding or design threshold. "If it's over $250,000, we have to have an engineer," a commissioner said, noting state procurement and engineering requirements.
The commission agreed to continue pushing NDOT for more substantial safety improvements, to prepare letters of support when grant opportunities arise, and to consider hiring engineering services now so planning can proceed regardless of the timing of external grants. Commissioners said bridge and riprap applications had been submitted and that some grants had advanced while others remain pending.
Details and context: The DOT letter also referenced public comment dates for the department's draft 2026–2029 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and provided a contact for submitting comments. Commissioners discussed inviting the district engineer or DOT staff to a future meeting to review priorities in person.
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff to draft a follow-up letter expressing appreciation for the DOT response while underscoring county safety concerns and to pursue engineering proposals for County Road 8 to be ready if state funding becomes available. No new county appropriation was approved at the Sept. 8 meeting.
