January 23, 2026

FM Area Diversion January Construction Update

FARGO, N.D. (January 23, 2026) – Portions of the FM Area Diversion’s 30-mile stormwater diversion channel now provide functional drainage, meaning that they will operate as intended during rain events, channeling water north to the diversion outlet.

This progress and other updates can be seen at https://youtu.be/yhH2jlkYC50 and summarized 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.