RALEIGH — State Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett announced that a 37-year employee of the N.C. Department of Transportation has been named the new state highway administrator.

Bill Rosser, who previously served as director of field operations, assumes his new duties Jan. 1. Rosser replaces Len Sanderson, who retired at the end of 2006.

“Bill brings a wealth of knowledge, skill and experience to this important role within the department,” Tippett said. “He knows highway construction and maintenance in and out, and he will be evaluating and implementing needed change in project delivery and oversight.”

The state highway administrator oversees road and bridge construction, maintenance and repair; equipment and materials; roadside environmental efforts including litter control and highway beautification; right-of-way acquisition; environmental analyses for projects; and both the computerized Travel Information System and a 511 toll-free information line for citizens to get current highway conditions. The Division of Highways has more than 10,000 employees.

Rosser joined NCDOT in August 1969 as an engineer in training. He has served in a number of positions through the years, including district engineer, head of highway maintenance and division engineer for field divisions 6 and 8. Rosser was named director of field operations in December 2003.

A Lee County native, Rosser graduated from N.C. State University with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and a master’s in transportation engineering.