April 29, 2024

FM Area Diversion April Construction Update

FARGO, ND (April 29, 2024) – The Metro Flood Diversion Authority has released the April construction update for the FM Area Diversion project at https://youtu.be/ogQdgavZ4nQ.

April 2024 Construction Update Video

In recent weeks, parts of the massive radial-arm gates that will open and close to control Red River of the North floodwaters have begun to arrive. It will take nine trucks to deliver each of the three gates for the Red River Structure from their production facility in Alabama. Once assembled on site, each will weigh nearly 300,000 pounds, or about as much as the Statue of Liberty. They will be 50 feet wide and 52.5 feet tall.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor for the structure also placed more than 2,000 cubic yards of concrete in recent weeks.

Among this month’s other construction highlights are: 

Maple River Aqueduct: ASN Constructors completed the last segment of the flume and conduit structure’s base, completed several piers, and have started on the adjacent wingwall footings. Once completed, the structure will allow the Maple River to pass over the top of the stormwater diversion channel.

Stormwater Diversion Channel: Another 500,000 cubic yards of material was excavated along the 30-mile-long channel. ASN Constructors also began constructing the levee in Reach 13, which is near Horace, North Dakota.

Channel Crossings: The completed FM Area Diversion project will have 19 bridges over the stormwater diversion channel. The crossing at County Road 32 became the first to have bridge deck formwork set. On the I-29 crossing north of the Fargo-Moorhead area, ASN Constructors began driving H-piles. To the southwest, ASN Constructors is building temporary bypasses on I-94 to prepare to start on that crossing.

For more information, go to www.FMDiversion.gov.

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.