Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven has announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a contract exceeding $10 million to construct Reach SE-5, marking the final segment required to complete the 21-mile Southern Embankment. This section is located in Minnesota and involves reconstructing parts of 180th Avenue, its intersection with Highway 75, and the Wolverton Creek crossing.

The funding for this project is part of a $437 million award from the Army Corps secured by Hoeven in 2022. This contract represents the last major federal effort in the Fargo-Moorhead region's flood protection initiative, signaling significant progress as the federal portion nears completion.

"Awarding this final contract to complete the Southern Embankment is achieving a major milestone in protecting the entire Fargo-Moorhead region against the threat of flooding," stated Hoeven. He emphasized the importance of securing full federal funding and advancing this project as the Corps' first major public-private partnership (P3) project. "This approach, which is serving as model for Army Corps projects across the country, provided the flexibility needed to build the various aspects of the project concurrently."

Hoeven's efforts have included passing 16 acts of Congress, consisting of nine legislative provisions like project authorizations in 2014 and new construction start authorization in 2016. Additionally, seven separate appropriations were made to fund construction fully, raising federal cost share commitments from $450 million to $750 million.

The project's advancement also utilized a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan and coordinated efforts across four federal agencies. It provided funding and flexibility for tasks such as raising I-29 and starting excavation on the Red River Control Structure to maintain schedule adherence.

An easement issue on lands acquired through Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding was resolved, allowing an alternative route for use in this flood protection project.