Board members received construction updates Sept. 25 showing multiple road and rail crossings moving toward reopening and major earthwork milestones on the diversion project. Project staff said roughly 39,000,000 of the needed 45,000,000 cubic yards of material have been moved on the channel and that several bridges and road crossings are entering final work and traffic‑opening phases.

Tom Fooks, senior construction manager for the Metro Flood Diversion Authority, and other construction staff briefed the board on September progress, including ASN Constructors’ recent reopening of a northbound lane of I‑29 and a scheduled first‑lane reopening for I‑94 within weeks. BNSF Railway crews were on site to install track at the Hillsborough Crossing and were scheduled to cut over train traffic in the coming weeks.

Construction highlights presented to the board included substantial completion milestones on multiple road crossings; poured bridge decks at County Road 6; approach embankments and permanent track installation near Hillsborough; concrete work on the Maple River Aqueduct spillway and wall facing; and embankment and turf reinforcement work at Reach SE2B and other reaches. The presentation showed that the Maple River Aqueduct work includes installation of heating‑system brackets for the low‑flow channel and placement of boulders to aid fish passage.

Project staff also provided a 30–60 day outlook showing a list of bridges and crossings expected to open this fall, contingent on weather and final work. Construction managers said much of the work remaining this season is finishing touches and reconnections of local roads.

On safety, staff reported two minor recordable incidents for the month; both were reported and reviewed, and no significant injuries were described. The project’s safety manager emphasized continued vigilance during fall close‑out activities.

Staff noted the P3 program report included an advance‑payment tracker summarizing payments made to the developer under the settlement agreement; the report shows the authority is approaching the capacity of the advance payment allowance and that milestone payments will be requested as corresponding work is completed. The board played a drone video showing many of the completed and nearly completed crossings and embankments.

Board members asked questions and received responses about sequencing of road reopenings and remaining work; staff said weather remains a factor for late‑season work.