June 29, 2024

FM Area Diversion June Construction Update

FARGO, ND (June 29, 2024) – The Metro Flood Diversion Authority has released the June construction update for the FM Area Diversion project at https://youtu.be/Rmq_MCPSR4k.

Work is taking place on more than two dozen components. Here are some highlights.

Mfda I 94 2 — *ASN Constructors paved bypass lanes on I-94 west of the Fargo-Moorhead metro area in preparation of building a crossing for the stormwater diversion channel there.*

Channel Crossings: ASN Constructors has begun work on all 19 road and railroad crossings that will span the stormwater diversion channel. More than 500 bridge girders will be used to complete all the work.

Mfda Mras 1 — *Construction continues on the Maple River Aqueduct, which will route the Maple River over the top of the stormwater diversion channel.*

Maple River Aqueduct: ASN Constructors continued to place concrete for the pier and abutment walls and the adjacent wingwall footings this month. They also have placed a temporary structure that will allow work to begin on the aqueduct flume.

OHB Ring Levee: Excavation work began this month on a ring levee that will protect the Oxbow-Hickson-Bakke community. The contractor will construct the last remaining portions of the ring levee system north and west of County Road 81.

Red River Structure: Assembly continues on the first of three 50-foot-wide radial arm gates on the structure, which is now 57% complete. Ames Construction also is placing concrete and fabricating the second and third gates.

Southern Embankment: Work recently began on reach SE-2B, which lies near the Wild Rice River Structure. R.J. Zavoral & Sons, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor there, began to strip topsoil, build an inspection trench, excavate material, and construct a portion of the 22-mile embankment.

*ASN Constructors excavates material in Reach 13 of the 30-mile stormwater diversion channel.*

Stormwater Diversion Channel: Wet weather slowed excavation this month, but ASN Constructors still moved about 400,000 cubic yards of material in nine separate reaches. To date, roughly 21 million cubic yards have been excavated.

Wild Rice River Structure: Ames Construction, a Corps of Engineers contractor, put finishing touches on the structure, including adding railings and ladders and painting.

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.

Media Contact: Amy Wieser Willson