Nevada Department of Transportation announces new executive staff member

Courtesy NDOT

The Nevada Department of Transportation has promoted Cole Mortensen as assistant director of engineering.

Mortensen will oversee pre-construction engineering for state road projects, including more than 300 NDOT project management, roadway design, bridge, environmental, location and right-of-way professionals. He began his NDOT career in 2002 as an associate engineer in the roadway design division, before spending six years in the structures and bridge arena and advancing into project management roles in 2009.

As NDOT project manager, Mortensen oversaw development of more than $3 billion in infrastructure improvements, including the state’s largest public works project, Project Neon. He has been a leader in the department’s alternative project delivery aimed at most efficiently and quickly constructing road improvements.

“As Nevada continues to grow, our state roadways connect and keep Nevada drivers and commerce mobile,” Mortensen explained. “I look forward to continuing as part of the NDOT team of professionals who design, develop and engineer the way for the road improvements that keep our state moving.”

Mortensen holds a bachelor's and master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno and is a registered civil engineer in Nevada and California.

He replaces former NDOT assistant director of engineering John Terry. Terry retired after approximately 20 years at NDOT, during which he advanced from roadway design, hydraulic, traffic operations and project management positions to assistant director of engineering.