Beginning Wednesday, September 9, the outside driving lane of the northbound roadway will be closed with traffic operating in a single lane within the inside northbound driving lane and shoulder. The outside driving lane of the southbound roadway will also be closed with traffic operating in a single lane within the inside southbound passing lane and shoulder. The lane closures are expected to last until October 12     

While the lanes are closed, the clear travel width will be restricted to 12 feet across the adjacent structures. Speeds through the work zone will be reduced to 55 mph.

The work is being done by the Metro Flood Diversion Authority in cooperation with the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

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 Lane Closure Planned on I-29 appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

Beyond removing the plugs to allow the river to flow through the Sheyenne River Aqueduct, ASN Constructors also welded sections of the structure’s vertical lift gate and worked on its maintenance bridges. Crews also installed air bladders that will raise and lower steel panels forming an adjustable crest weir.

Besides rivers, drains will route into the channel. At Drain 14, just west of the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, ASN Constructors excavated connections for two drain inlets. Flows from the nearly 80-square-mile watershed associated with Drain 14 will now be split into two separate inlets and permanently flow into the channel.

Further, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor worked to close a portion of Drain 27 where the southern embankment crosses it. Inflows have been rerouted to the Wild Rice River. Next, they will grade and gravel the Drain 27 weir access road and terminate 57th Street.

Mitigation work progressed, as well, this month. Among the many projects is the Cass Rural Water ring levee – an embankment that will encircle wells and a water treatment facility to protect it from rising floodwaters when the FM Area Diversion operates. More than 300,000 cubic yards of material will be excavated, and more than one mile of ring levee will be constructed to protect the Cass Rural Water Facility.

Once the project achieves completion, the public will have access to 60 new miles of trails. Construction on the two major trailheads as well as seven access points is underway to prepare for the trails’ opening.

Watch these updates and more in the new drone construction update at https://youtu.be/MDq9n3OCkes.

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 August Construction Update appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

This single lane closure will be in effect on Thursday, September 3, 2026, and last for the day only. Flaggers will be in place to coordinate traffic through the closure.

Delays are expected as traffic will come to a stop to navigate through the lane closure. The public is asked to allow extra time and

remain alert to changing conditions when driving through this construction zone.

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

The post Temporary Lane Closure Planned on County Road 22 Crossing appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

The closure, approximately 3 miles north of Oxbow, North Dakota, is part of the Fargo, North Dakota/Moorhead,
Minnesota, Metro Area Flood Risk Management project. The roadway is being closed to allow for repairs of
County Road 81 where it crosses the Southern Embankment.

Please drive with caution in the area, follow posted detour signs and stay alert near construction zones.
For more information about the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion project, visit www.fmdiversion.gov.

The Corps of Engineers is working in partnership with the cities of Fargo and Moorhead and the Metro Flood
Diversion Authority on the diversion project. This project will provide flood risk management for nearly 260,000
people and 70 square miles of infrastructure in the communities of Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Horace and
Harwood. Construction is expected to be complete this year with the system being operable in the spring of
2027.

The post U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Announces Temporary Road Closure Related to the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Project appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

The gathering will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, beginning at approximately 10:00 AM and ending at approximately 10:30 AM, at the Larry Richard farm, located at 4813 173rd Ave SE, Horace, ND 58074.

The route from I-29: Take exit 54 to head west on County Highway 16 (124th Ave S) for 0.3 miles; turn left on 173rd Ave SE, the location will be the first building on right-hand side of road.

The number of Metro Flood Diversion Authority board members present may create a quorum, so this notice is being sent in accordance with the North Dakota Open Meetings Law.

The post Press Conference Regarding Farm Bill Provisions appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

Justin Fisher, who holds a Ph.D. in environmental and conservation sciences from NDSU, oversees land management and compliance for the Metro Flood Diversion Authority. From wetlands to native grasses, he makes sure the land is cared for in a way that supports long term ecological health. Hear what he has to say.

The post Faces of the Diversion: Justin Fisher appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

As one of many working out of public view, Martin Nicholson has now spent roughly a third of his lengthy career working on the FM Area Diversion. The Metro Flood Diversion Authority’s deputy executive director explains what makes the diversion unique among the projects he’s worked on across the globe.

The post Faces of the Diversion: Martin Nicholson appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

The number of Metro Flood Diversion Authority board members present at the ceremony may create a quorum, so notice is being sent in accordance with the North Dakota Open Meetings Law.

The post Bridge Completion Ribbon Cutting Ceremony appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

This milestone has been several years in the making. Work began on the Maple River Aqueduct in 2023 and on the Sheyenne River Aqueduct in 2024.

Their purpose is to carry two rivers over the stormwater diversion channel portion of the FM Area Diversion project. They are unique structures; they are the northernmost aqueducts in the world and two of only a few in North America. Each aqueduct features a heated low flow channel to ensure fish passage through the cold winter months.

The aqueducts were built away from each river to allow for construction on dry land. An engineered channel was then constructed on each end of the aqueduct for the river to flow from its natural riverbed, across the aqueduct flume and back into its natural riverbed. 

Inside each aqueduct flume and engineered channels, fish will encounter roughness elements such as boulders to mimic natural elements of their river habitat. The boulders create resting spots for the fish as they swim through the aqueduct.

As part of the reroute of the river, fish and mussels were salvaged from the abandoned section of each river and relocated to the natural riverbed.

With both rivers routed through the aqueduct structures, channel excavation through the abandoned section of the previous riverbed has continued at the Maple River and will be started soon at the Sheyenne River.

Each aqueduct also has a vertical lift gate that will be used to control the flow of water during flood operation.

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

Aqueduct Facts and Figures

The post Maple and Sheyenne Rivers Routed Through Aqueduct Structures appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.