There is established within the department the division of project development, under the supervision of an unclassified director of project development, who shall be a registered professional engineer and shall be responsible for the following functions, in accordance with applicable laws:
I. Transportation engineering, including planning and design for state highway, rail, and other forms of transportation, as required to coordinate the state's transportation system.
II. Materials research and testing.
III. Acquisition of all real property rights necessary to carry out department responsibilities.
IV. Field supervision of all transportation construction for which the department is responsible, except air navigation facilities.