For the first time in North Dakota, the rumble strips that have been used on the right sides of the road will be added to the centerline of two North Dakota highways.

For the first time in North Dakota, the rumble strips that have been used on the right sides of the road will be added to the centerline of two North Dakota highways. The centerline rumble stripes, known as stripes in the center of the road and strips on the side, were added to ND Highway 1806 beginning at Fort Lincoln State Park, continuing south to ND Highway 24. The centerline rumble stripe will also be placed from that junction fot he junction of ND Highway 24 and Highway 6.

Construction on the project took place in the Fall of 2008. Total cost of the project was $113,000.

"Centerline rumble stripes are being implemented to improve safety on our 2-lane highways. They have been used in other states and found to be effective in reducing head-on crashes and opposite directions sideswipe crashes," states North Dakota Department of Transportation Planning and Programming Engineer, Scott Zainhofsky.

In 2003, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a study that analyzed 210 miles of treated roads in seven states before and after the installation of centerline rumble stripes. The results indicated a 15 percent reduction for all injury crashes, as well as a 25 percent reduction in head-on and opposing-direction sideswipe injury crashes.

In addition to the sound and vibration benefits offered by the centerline rumble stripes, research has found that they are easier to see in rainy weather because there is greater reflectivity on the vertical side of the groove.

The stripes will be grooves that are cut into the road, with each line measuring seven inches long (parallel to running length of road) and one foot wide (perpendicular to running length of road). Depth will be one-eighth inch to one-half inch.