FARGO, N,D. (MFDA) – Nearly all 19 crossings over the FM Area Diversion’s stormwater diversion channel have opened to traffic or are nearing that point. After opening the County Road 10 crossing late last month, ASN Constructors announced the opening of the northbound driving lane of I-29 this month as well as today’s opening of the I-94 crossing. Additionally, the bridge deck was poured on the last of 16 road crossings over the stormwater diversion channel this month.
These and other highlights of work being done of the FM Area Diversion can be seen in the new drone construction update video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_JKBG6yfPg.
Crossings: With the northbound lane open on I-29, ASN Constructors is now working to complete the median and passing lanes in both directions. They also worked on the County Road 81 crossing, where the concrete bridge approach slabs and railings were completed this month, as well as the County Road 6 crossing, where crews poured the bridge deck. Railroad tracks also will cross over the channel. At the BNSF Hillsboro crossing, work is nearly complete with only final welding and protective coatings remaining to be done.
Maple River Aqueduct: ASN Constructors prepared the subgrade for the spillway, installed hot lead support brackets for the one-of-a-kind heating system, and placed boulders to provide roughness elements that foster fish passage over the structure through all seasons.
Oxbow-Hickson-Bakke Levee: As one of the mitigation efforts that are part of the overall project, federal contractor Hendrickson Transportation LLC is placing the last of the embankment at the intersection of County Roads 81 and 18, which is near the southern end. On the northern end, they placed topsoil and gravel for the access and maintenance roads.
Southern Embankment: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors have been working on the 22-mile earthen embankment, including its crossings. At Reach SE-2B, the final lifts of asphalt paving for County Road 16 are underway, and contractors placed topsoil and turf reinforcement matting. They also planted native vegetation across the project’s footprint. Fabric and gravel were placed atop the embankment for the maintenance road.
Stormwater Diversion Channel: Excavation work continues as well as building the channel’s embankments. To date, more than 39 million cubic yards of material have been moved, which would be enough to rebuild the Great Pyramid of Giza more than a dozen times.
