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Diversion project hits construction milestones; inlet gates commissioned and channel excavation passes 34 million cubic yards
Summary
Staff reported gate machinery for the diversion inlet was commissioned, multiple bridge and deck pours are underway, channel excavation has moved more than 34.5 million of an estimated 45 million cubic yards, and environmental work (tree planting, cultural monitoring, mussel and fish salvage planning) is ongoing.
Board members received a broad construction and environmental compliance update, including recent commissioning, bridge milestones, channel excavation totals and habitat‑salvage planning.
“The gate machinery went through commissioning, and everything went really well. Everything's working as intended, and we have gates that raise and lower properly,” said Terry, a staff member delivering the construction update on the diversion inlet. Terry said final inspections and training are upcoming at the diversion inlet and the Wild Rice River work will next focus on operating machinery completion.
Tom Fuchs, senior construction manager for the Metro Flood Diversion Authority, reported on channel excavation and crossings. “They've now moved more than 34 and a half million cubic yards of the needed 45,000,000,” Fuchs said, and noted work on 19 crossings, girders being set at County Road 81 and at the BNSF Hillsboro rail crossing, and a large northbound I‑29 deck pour that used nearly 600 cubic yards of concrete.
A construction manager identified as Chris said contractors are mobilizing across embankment reaches and highlighted that Count Road 1617 intersection closure is expected to remain in place until September while embankment work ties into the diversion structure.
Environmental and compliance efforts were also highlighted. Planting began last fall and approximately 3,500 of about 35,000 trees have been planted in early reaches, staff said. The team reported cultural monitoring and targeted excavation at locations where archaeological artifacts might be present and said contracts are being prepared for mussel and fish salvage as the authority reconnects river reaches through completed structures.
Safety and schedule notes: the project reported a strong safety month with only one minor first‑aid recordable. Staff said several embankment and bridge activities are expected to continue through the summer and that the administration building excavation had resumed following wet weather delays.
These construction and environmental activities were presented as operational updates; the board did not take separate formal action on the items during this meeting.
