Fargo‑Moorhead diversion 61% complete; authority warns Minnesota funding and contractor disputes could affect schedule

Tony Greenberg, chair of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority, told the House Appropriations Committee the Fargo‑Moorhead Metro Flood Diversion project has reached roughly 61 percent net construction completion through 2024 and that the authority expects about 75–80 percent completion by the end of 2025.

Greenberg, a Cass County commissioner and the project chair for the year, said the public‑private portion of the project (P3) was about 58 percent complete and in‑town flood protection was over 80 percent complete. He told the committee the project has excavated 28 million cubic yards of material, driven 24 miles of piling and planted more than 35,100 trees.

Project timeline, certification and funding Greenberg said the authority anticipates moving toward full project completion in 2026 with a “soft opening” or initial operability in 2027. He noted there is a separate FEMA certification process that may take three to five years after construction is finished. On funding, the authority reported the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contribution (approximately $750 million), state contributions including the $850 million bond provided by North Dakota, and more than $1 billion from local sales taxes and other local funding sources. The authority said Minnesota has put about $124…