09.22.22

ND Delegation: DoD Announces Funding to Prevent Road Washouts Near Minot Air Force Base

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Congressman Kelly Armstrong today announced that the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded $2.9 million to the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT). This funding was made available through the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program and will be used for road maintenance at the crossroad of US Highway 2 and US Highway 52, commonly referred to as Brooks Junction, west of Minot. In a letter to DoD, the delegation urged for the approval of NDDOT’s request, outlining the need to reduce risk of washouts along the high traffic route to support the operations of the 91st Missile Wing at the Minot Air Force Base (MAFB) as well as the local agriculture and energy sector in North Dakota. 

“Both highways have an Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of approximately 5,500 vehicles and are used not only by the 91st Missile Wing, but also the agriculture and energy sectors in the state,” the delegation wrote. “In order to ensure the resiliency of this vital network, three structures will be replaced, including a mission-essential structure used by the 91st Missile Wing for convoy operations that include a large number of security forces and maintenance vehicles. The proposed project would provide improved reliability and safety, while supporting our nation’s defense as well as domestic food and energy security.” 

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