March 29, 2024

FM Area Diversion March Construction Update

FARGO, ND (March 29, 2024) – The Metro Flood Diversion Authority has released the March construction update for the FM Area Diversion project.

This progress and other updates can be viewed at the March 2024 Construction Flyover video.

Transcript: March 2024 Construction Flyover

Click to expand transcript

Tom Fuchs (Senior Construction Manager): [00:00:00] Teams throughout the Red River Valley have spent this past month driving piles, pouring concrete, and moving dirt. I’m Tom Fuchs, senior construction manager for the Metro Flood Diversion Authority, with the latest project update.

[00:00:17] Our tour starts at the Red River Structure where we had expected work to pause for the winter months. Instead, the warmer than average weather has allowed nearly 3,000 cubic yards of structural concrete to be placed since the start of the new year.

[00:00:30] In the past month, Ames Construction completed portions of formwork, rebar, and concrete placement at the structure’s west stilling basin and downstream retaining walls. They also completed portions of both of the structure’s abutments and piers.

[00:00:48] With the west abutment nearly complete, crews have now installed shoring towers and post-tension bars in preparation for casting the first of the structure’s trunnion girders. Situated at the top back of the abutments and piers, the trunnion girders act as the anchor point for the Tainter gate strut arms and must resist the pressure from flood waters when the gates are lowered during operational events.

[00:01:14] Speaking of Tainter gates, we’ll be sure to highlight their scheduled arrivals in the coming weeks. ASN Constructors has also been busy with concrete placement at the Maple River Aqueduct. Concrete work continued at the flume and conduit structure. Their work is focused on completing additional portions of the structure’s base as well as the west abutment and piers.

[00:01:37] They’ve also begun forming concrete substructure elements for the BNSF Prosper railroad bridge which will allow trains to pass over the stormwater diversion channel. The project’s three railroad crossings will differ distinctly from the 16 road crossings that will be built. In comparison, due to much heavier loads, the railroad bridges will feature shorter spans, larger concrete substructure elements, and more piling.

[00:01:59] ASN Constructors also has been working on the other crossings. At the combined channel crossing for County Roads 4 and 31 east of Argusville, they installed bridge girders. Farther south at County Roads 20 and 22, crews are now driving H-piles.

[00:02:18] Excavation continues on the channel as well. Of the 45 million cubic yards of material that must be moved, ASN Constructors is approaching the 19 million cubic yard mark. That’s enough dirt to fill the Fargodome about nine times.

[00:02:39] Want to learn more interesting facts and continue to follow the construction progress? Sign up for the diversion current at fmdiversion.gov/subscribe.

In recent weeks, contractors have placed thousands of cubic yards of concrete at the Red River Structure and the Maple River Aqueduct. They have also made significant progress on some of the 12 county road bridges that will cross the 30-mile stormwater diversion channel.

Among this month’s construction highlights are:

  • Red River Structure: Nearly 3,000 cubic yards of concrete have been placed as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contractor moves closer to completing the structure’s abutments and piers and prepares to receive the three 50-foot-wide radial-arm gates that will be installed to control floodwaters. This will be the largest of the three control structures for the project.
  • Maple River Aqueduct: ASN Constructors continues to pour and form concrete for the aqueduct’s base, abutments and piers. This component is the first of two aqueducts in the project to begin construction. Once completed, it’s believed that it will be the northernmost aqueduct in the world and the only to incorporate heat.
  • BNSF Prosper Railroad Crossing: ASN Constructors began forming the concrete substructure on what will be one of the three railroad crossings over the stormwater diversion channel.
  • County Road Crossings: Once the project is completed, the stormwater diversion channel will have 12 county roads crossing over it. In recent weeks, ASN Constructors installed bridge girders for the combined channel crossing for County Roads 4 and 31, which is east of Argusville, North Dakota. Farther south, at County Roads 20 and 22, they began driving H-piles for those crossings.
  • Stormwater Diversion Channel: ASN Constructors continues to work 24/7 to excavate the 30-mile-long channel. To date, they’ve moved 19 million cubic yards of material, which would be enough to fill the Fargodome nearly nine times.

The FM Area Diversion project is expected to be operational by 2027. By using a public-private partnership, the completion will be achieved 10 years sooner and for $300 million less than with traditional design-bid-build construction projects. Additional construction progress can be accessed at https://fmdiversion.gov/project-status-road-closures/construction-status/.

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.