Diversion project in Fargo-Moorhead recognized with P3 Award

FARGO, N.D. — The Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion project in North Dakota and the team that worked on it was recently recognized with P3 Awards, which highlights the top accomplishments in public-private partnerships.

The FM Area Diversion uses a split-delivery approach for construction, with a portion being delivered through a public-private partnership with the Red River Valley Alliance (RRVA) and its design and construction arm, ASN Constructors, states a release. RRVA is building the 30-mile diversion channel as well as aqueducts, road and railroad crossings, drainage inlets and the diversion outlet.

The winners recognized from the flood mitigation infrastructure project include:

• Public Sector Promoter/Procurer of the Year – Judges were impressed with the work to date of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority (MFDA) and “welcomed its ability to bring so many different jurisdictions and stakeholders together. They considered it to be an exemplar in the way to manage a major new program of investment.”
• Best Financial Structure – The project “threads the needle on debt sources, credit risk, structure and timing complication,” judges said of the FM Area Diversion comprehensive project and the work of Agentis Capital.
• Legal Adviser of the Year – Ashurst was recognized for advising the MFDA “on its pioneering flood diversion P3,” including providing “strategic advice over the development of the project.” John Shockley, the MFDA’s bond and legal counsel, was shortlisted for the award.

Others involved with the diversion project were also shortlisted for awards, including Joel Paulsen, MFDA executive director, for Future Leader of the Year and Shikun & Binui USA, Ashurst and Winston & Strawn for Best Utilities Project for their work on the diversion.

“Our focus, first and foremost, is delivering permanent flood protection to the Fargo-Moorhead metro community,” Paulsen said in a statement. “Recognition like this helps to affirm that we are not only on the right path, but that we are excelling in how we have come together to develop our teams, funding and partnerships.”