The closure will begin on Thursday, May 7, 2026, and last through Thursday, May 28, 2026. These dates are dependent on weather conditions and may change. Signage is currently in place to notify motorists of the upcoming closure.

A clearly signed detour will be in place to route traffic around the closure using County Road 14, County Road 21 and County Road 16.

The public is asked to allow extra time to navigate the detour and remain alert to changing travel patterns.

For more information about the FM Area Diversion project and to stay up to date with road closures, visit www.fmdiversion.gov.

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On Interstate 29, closures will be seen between mile markers 75 and 76 in the northbound lanes and mile markers 76 and 75 in the southbound lanes.

On Interstate 94, closures will be seen between mile markers 343 and 342 in the westbound lanes and mile markers 342 and 343 in the eastbound lanes.

These closures will allow crews to identify areas of the crossings that will need additional work in the coming weeks.

Speeds will be reduced to 55 mph through the construction zone and lane widths are expected to be maintained.

Upon completion of these short-term lane closures, longer-term lane closures will be set up for the identified work to be completed. These closures are expected to begin on Monday, April 27, 2026, and last several weeks. Crews will begin work on I-29 and when work is complete, move to I-94.
Speeds may be reduced to 40 mph and width restrictions of 16 feet may be implemented depending on the activities taking place.

During these lane closures, motorists are asked to remain alert to changing traffic patterns and obey all posted signage.

Motorists are encouraged to monitor the NDDOT’s ND Roads map for updates. Visit https://travel.dot.nd.gov/ and toggle Work Zones on in the left side menu.

For more information about the FM Area Diversion project, visit www.fmdiversion.gov.

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With completion of this bridge, another milestone has been achieved in the construction of the stormwater diversion channel. All the railroad bridges over the stormwater diversion channel are now complete and open to train traffic. Also, this is the 16^th of 19 crossings to open over the stormwater diversion channel. Three county bridges will open later this year.

The railroad bridge is west of West Fargo, north of Interstate 94. 

The bridge measures 405 feet long. Construction began in the summer of 2023 to construct a temporary track, called a shoofly, where trains operated until the new bridge was constructed. Work began on the bridge structure in fall 2024 and was completed by ASN Constructors and Kraemer North America in partnership with BNSF, which constructed the track. BNSF will own and maintain the railroad bridge.

For more information about the FM Area Diversion project, visit www.fmdiversion.gov.

The post Third Railroad Bridge Opens Across the Stormwater Diversion Channel appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

Located southwest of Harwood, North Dakota, construction on the CR 22 bridge began in March 2024. The bridge is 410 feet long and utilizes 18 girders to support the bridge deck. It is the 15th of 19 crossings over the channel to open.    

Work to remove the existing bypass will begin in the coming days. Motorists are asked to stay alert in this area as construction work continues. 

Work on the bridge and roadway was completed by ASN Constructors and R.J. Zavoral & Sons, Inc.  

For more information about the FM Area Diversion project, visit www.fmdiversion.gov.

The post County Road 22 Crossing Opens to Traffic appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

Aqueducts: ASN Constructors continued placing formwork, rebar and concrete for the remaining portions of the flume and conduit structure on the Sheyenne River Aqueduct. Concrete work also continued on the structure’s wingwalls, which will usher both the Sheyenne River through the structure’s flume and diversion channel flows through the conduits below. At the spillway, construction of additional sections of the structure’s concrete base slab is underway, and crews are forming and placing concrete baffle blocks on top of the already completed portions of the spillway’s base. 

Authority Administration Building: ASN Constructors installed sheathing and weather barrier on the exterior of the building that will serve as the permanent home for the Metro Flood Diversion Authority. It’s positioned along the southern embankment to provide a direct line of sight during project operations. Work began inside the building, as well, with metal stud framing and mechanical and electrical rough-in work. Crews also began installing the roof at the maintenance building nearby.

Stormwater Diversion Channel: Excavation is nearly 90% completed on the 30-mile channel. In reaches 9 and 10, which are west of the FM metro area and south of I-94, channel excavation and material placement in the excavated material berms continues, allowing the diversion channel to take shape on both sides of the 38^th Street West crossing. In reach 6, crews removed the BNSF Prosper shoofly and are excavating the diversion channel plug below. Once completed, excavation in this area will establish a connection between Reaches 5 and 6 of the stormwater diversion channel.  

About the Metro Flood Diversion Authority

The MFDA is a permanent North Dakota political subdivision that is cooperatively implementing the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion comprehensive project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The MFDA works in partnership with the Red River Valley Alliance in a public-private partnership as well as the City of Fargo, City of Moorhead, Cass County, Clay County and the Cass County Joint Water Resource District.

The post FM Area Diversion February Construction Update appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

The burn will follow all applicable environmental and safety precautions, aiming to minimize environmental impacts and ensure public safety.

During the burn, the public may see smoke rising from that area. The burn has been coordinated with local fire departments, and we are committed to keeping disruptions to the public as minimal as possible. 

For more information about the FM Area Diversion project, visit www.fmdiversion.gov.

The post Tree Pile Burn Planned appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

This progress and other updates can be seen at the January 2026 Construction Flyover video below.

Aqueducts: The towers for the vertical lift gate of the Maple River Aqueduct have now been assembled and installed. ASN Constructors also has placed more concrete on the spillway’s base and is excavating the diversion channel on the south approach to the aqueduct’s flume and conduit structure.

Crossings: ASN completed concrete placement for the last span of the BNSF KO crossing. Concrete work will continue in the coming months, as the weather allows, with temporary heating and shelter apparatuses used. BNSF crews also are installing track and ballast on the new mainline approaches at both ends of the crossing.

Stormwater Diversion Channel: In Reach 3 of the stormwater diversion channel, north of the FM metro area, channel excavation is now substantially complete where the County Road 81 Bypass and BNSF Hillsboro Shoofly once moved traffic. Just upstream, in Reach 4, final grading and topsoil placement are underway where both the Rush River and the Lower Rush River once crossed the diversion channel’s alignment. Recently completed channel excavation at these locations established functional drainage connections for diversion channel reaches 2 and 3 as well as portions of reach 4. ASN Constructors also is working around-the-clock on reaches 8 and 9, which span I-94. They are removing portions of the interstate bypasses that were used earlier this year as well as excavating the channel.

About the Metro Flood Diversion Authority

The MFDA is a permanent North Dakota political subdivision that is cooperatively implementing the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion comprehensive project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The MFDA works in partnership with the Red River Valley Alliance in a public-private partnership as well as the City of Fargo, City of Moorhead, Cass County, Clay County and the Cass County Joint Water Resource District.

The post FM Area Diversion January Construction Update appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

“It’s an honor to once again serve as chairman of the MFDA Board and to continue the work of protecting our region from future flooding,” Mahoney said. “This project has been decades in the making, and with major construction nearing completion, we are closer than ever to delivering permanent flood protection for the Fargo-Moorhead community.”

This is Mahoney’s fourth time as MFDA Board chairman; the role rotates between the Fargo mayor, Moorhead mayor and Cass County Commission chairperson. Mahoney has been working toward permanent flood protection for the Fargo-Moorhead area since the FM Area Diversion was merely a concept in 2008, when he served as Fargo’s deputy mayor.

Mahoney replaces Grindberg, who will continue to serve on the Board as well as its Finance and Planning committees.

“It was an exciting year for the FM Area Diversion project, and I’m humbled at having the opportunity to help lead this landmark project,” Grindberg said. “Major construction surpassed the 80% mark in 2025 – an astounding accomplishment after many years of hard work and negotiation. I’m looking forward to continuing to serve on the Board as we make the transition from construction to operations and maintenance in 2026.”

During his time as chairman, the FM Area Diversion project saw significant construction progress. Fourteen of the 19 crossings over the 30-mile stormwater diversion channel are now open to traffic, the three control structures are nearly completed, and the two aqueducts have taken shape. All major construction is expected to wrap up in 2026, after which components will be maintained and the grounds managed so that the project remains ready to operate when needed.

During the MFDA Board’s annual meeting on Thursday, Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson, who last served as Board chairwoman in 2024, was appointed to serve as the Board’s vice chairperson.

The MFDA Board is led by 13 members who represent stakeholder entities of the FM Area Diversion project, which will provide permanent flood protection to Fargo, North Dakota; Moorhead, Minnesota; and surrounding communities. Board members are appointed by the Fargo City Commission, Moorhead City Council, Cass County Commission, Clay County Commission, Cass County Joint Water Resource District, and the West Fargo City Commission.

About the Metro Flood Diversion Authority

The MFDA is a permanent North Dakota political subdivision that is cooperatively implementing the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion comprehensive project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The MFDA works in partnership with the Red River Valley Alliance in a public-private partnership as well as the City of Fargo, City of Moorhead, Cass County, Clay County and the Cass County Joint Water Resource District. More information is available at www.FMDiversion.gov.

The post Mayor Mahoney Takes Lead on MFDA Board appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

“It’s been astounding to see the level of progress the past couple of years,” said Cass County Commissioner Tony Grindberg, Metro Flood Diversion Authority 2025 board chairman. “We saw 14 bridges open to traffic this year, and we made significant progress on the two aqueducts, which are unlike anything else in the world. We also witnessed the Red River as it was rerouted to flow through the Red River control structure. These are major milestones on our journey toward reliable flood protection for the Fargo-Moorhead metro area.”

That many bridges have never been built in such a short timeframe for the community. The asphalt used for the bridges this year would be enough to construct a 4-foot-wide bike path that stretches roughly 300 miles.

Grindberg highlighted the year’s accomplishments alongside other project leaders in the newly released FM Area Diversion 2025 Year in Review video.

With winter weather having arrived, asphalt paving and work on reaches of the 22-mile southern embankment wrapped up for the season. Construction continues, however, on the 30-mile stormwater diversion channel and the aqueducts. For the former, the frozen ground makes excavation of the Red River Valley’s clay-like soil easier, while heaters and sheeting have made it possible to continue to place concrete at the aqueducts. This recent construction can be seen in a new drone construction update video.

“Having started work on this project when it was simply a concept in 2010 to now seeing construction more than three-quarters of the way completed is a rewarding feeling,” said Jason Benson, MFDA executive director. “Many, many people have played a role in not only bringing this project to fruition but also developing the sophisticated engineering plans, acquiring the funding and financing, and performing the physical construction. We owe them all our thanks.”

About the Metro Flood Diversion Authority

The MFDA is a permanent North Dakota political subdivision that is cooperatively implementing the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion comprehensive project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The MFDA works in partnership with the Red River Valley Alliance in a public-private partnership as well as the City of Fargo, City of Moorhead, Cass County, Clay County and the Cass County Joint Water Resource District.

The post FM Area Diversion Releases Year-End Construction Update appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.