June 2, 2025

FM Area Diversion May Construction Update

FARGO, ND (May 23, 2025) – More than 76 percent of the 30-mile-long stormwater diversion channel has now been excavated. The 34.5 million cubic yards moved would be enough to fill the Fargodome more than 20 times. See that and other highlights in this month’s drone video at https://youtu.be/QarnwgFlTxI.

Crossings: Northwest of Harwood, North Dakota, ASN Constructors has placed girders for the County Road 81 bridge deck, completed the substructure work on the BNSF Hillsboro rail crossings, and placed 600 cubic yards of concrete on the northbound I-29 bridge deck.

Diversion Inlet Structure: The mechanical gear for the structure, which is 99 percent completed, has now arrived and been installed. Contractors are cycling the gate machinery, calibrating the equipment, and commissioning the gate operating systems to ensure everything is in working order when it’s needed.

Maple River Aqueduct: ASN Constructors is nearing completion of the concrete work for the flume and conduit structure as well as the wingwalls. They’re beginning to backfill the structure as well as construct maintenance road bridges that will span each end of the flume. They also are installing nearly an acre’s worth of sheet piling there.

Raymond Township Section 27 Drain Inlet: The concrete pipes were backfilled, and concrete work began on the headwalls on both the upstream and downstream ends.

Red River Structure: Ames Construction, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor, placed concrete for the mechanical platform bridge deck and constructed concrete piers and wall segments for the structure’s east floodwall this month. Upstream of the structure, work shifted to the east half of the approach apron, where they are driving piling.

Stormwater Diversion Channel: ASN Constructors continues to work 24/7 to excavate the 30-mile-long channel. To date, they have moved 34.5 million of the 45 million cubic yards needed.

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.