FM Area Diversion October Construction Update

At the Red River Structure, Ames Construction is assembling the second 50-by-52.5-foot radial-arm gate. Download Image

October 25, 2024

FM Area Diversion October Construction Update

FARGO, ND (October 25, 2024) - Warm fall weather kept work moving at a fast pace on the FM Area Diversion project this month, but some sites will be shutting down soon for winter. Work on the 22-mile southern embankment, which is being constructed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' contractors, will wrap up soon for the season. Excavation on the 30-mile-long stormwater diversion channel, however, will continue since cold weather makes it easier to move the thick material. A drone video highlighting this month's progress can be downloaded and viewed at https://youtu.be/r1xRa88Kl3g.

This month's construction highlights include:

Channel Crossings: ASN Constructors has been working on many of the 19 road and railroad bridges that will cross the stormwater diversion channel. On I-94, west of the metro area, bridge girders were installed at the new eastbound and westbound crossings.

Red River Structure

Red River Structure: The largest of the three control structures being built by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' contractor Ames Construction now has girders installed for the mechanical platform bridge, which will support the gate lifting machinery, and the vehicle service bridge. They also placed bedding, riprap and concrete this month. In the second of the three bays, crews are assembling the fifty-by-fifty-two-and-a-half-foot radial-arm gate, which will soon be hung. The structure's three gates combined weigh nearly 900,000 pounds, which is more than the weight of seven of the "World's Largest Buffalo" statues in Jamestown, North Dakota.

Sheyenne River Aqueduct

Sheyenne River Aqueduct: ASN Constructors' work on the aqueduct this month included driving piling and commencing concrete work at the structure's base.

Southern Embankment Reach 2B

Southern Embankment: Several reaches of varying lengths are under construction on the embankment, which will stretch from south of Horace on the North Dakota side to south of Comstock on the Minnesota side. R.J. Zavoral & Sons Inc. has the contract for Reach 2B, which is near the Wild Rice River Structure. They have been working on a weir that will prevent breakout flooding from high-water events stemming from the Red River as well as the County Road 16 alignment, which will cross up and over the embankment. The 4.1-mile stretch is 20% complete.

Reach 4, on the Minnesota side of the Red River, is now under construction, as well. Contractor PWS Inc. stripped topsoil in preparation for constructing roadway realignments near Clay County Road 59 and 130^th Avenue.

Planting trees and native grasses at Reach 1 of the stormwater diversion channel

Stormwater Diversion Channel: ASN Constructors has been working at both ends of the 30-mile-long stormwater diversion channel. On the southern end, they've been excavating in reaches 10, 11, 12 and 13. On the northern end, though, they've been working on finishing touches. Across reaches 1, 2 and 3, they've been seeding native grasses, planting trees and placing gravel on the maintenance roads.

For the latest road closures and more construction information, go to 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.

For current photos of FM Area Diversion project construction, please contact Amy Wieser Willson at [email protected] or 218-535-5359.