WEBVTT 00:05.460 --> 00:07.627 When we set out to build a diversion , 00:07.627 --> 00:09.738 many people didn't think we could get 00:09.738 --> 00:11.960 it done . We had two different cities , 00:11.960 --> 00:14.199 two states , two governors , one , a 00:14.210 --> 00:16.620 Republican , one , a Democrat . We had 00:16.629 --> 00:18.629 different county boards , different 00:18.629 --> 00:20.740 city boards and two water boards each 00:20.740 --> 00:23.319 with their own issues to overcome . But 00:23.329 --> 00:25.218 they all learned to work together 00:25.218 --> 00:27.385 toward one common goal . They all knew 00:27.385 --> 00:29.551 we needed permanent flood protection . 00:29.551 --> 00:31.496 Sandbagging year after year wasn't 00:31.496 --> 00:33.718 going to cut it from the very beginning 00:33.718 --> 00:35.829 of the project . The US Army Corps of 00:35.829 --> 00:37.940 Engineers partnered with us along the 00:37.940 --> 00:39.829 way , the Corps worked with us to 00:39.829 --> 00:42.051 overcome these many hurdles and project 00:42.051 --> 00:43.996 issues . The Corp was flexible and 00:43.996 --> 00:45.773 adaptable to new ideas from the 00:45.773 --> 00:47.940 diversion team . The Corps was willing 00:47.940 --> 00:50.162 to explore ways to be more efficient to 00:50.162 --> 00:52.385 innovate a public , private partnership 00:52.540 --> 00:54.707 and the fast track six year time frame 00:54.707 --> 00:56.818 to build the project . These were key 00:56.818 --> 00:58.860 to getting it done . Thanks to the 00:58.869 --> 01:00.869 strong partnership in our community 01:00.869 --> 01:03.036 efforts , we're coming in under budget 01:03.036 --> 01:05.147 and on time , I'm grateful to say the 01:05.147 --> 01:07.369 diversion is on track to be ready for a 01:07.369 --> 01:10.550 spring 2027 flood , the Fargo North 01:10.559 --> 01:12.129 Dakota Moorhead , Minnesota 01:12.139 --> 01:14.500 metropolitan area is a major community 01:14.510 --> 01:16.454 and commercial center in the north 01:16.454 --> 01:18.566 central part of the country . The Red 01:18.566 --> 01:20.566 River flows north between these two 01:20.566 --> 01:22.288 cities and along with multiple 01:22.288 --> 01:24.889 tributaries is prone to flooding . The 01:24.900 --> 01:28.080 river has exceeded flood stage in 59 of 01:28.089 --> 01:31.129 the past 119 years and the threat is 01:31.139 --> 01:34.069 increasing . Given seven of the top 10 01:34.080 --> 01:36.080 floods have occurred in the last 30 01:36.080 --> 01:38.209 years . Both cities have relied on 01:38.220 --> 01:40.529 heroic efforts by staff and the public 01:40.589 --> 01:43.370 to fight flooding to include the 2009 01:43.379 --> 01:45.490 flood of record where more than six , 01:45.490 --> 01:47.490 nine miles , the emergency measures 01:47.490 --> 01:50.290 were deployed . This project once built 01:50.300 --> 01:53.660 will safeguard nearly 260,000 citizens 01:53.739 --> 01:56.459 where they live , work , go to school 01:56.470 --> 01:58.370 and access health care . It will 01:58.379 --> 02:00.209 protect 70 square miles of 02:00.220 --> 02:03.209 infrastructure and prevent 18 billion 02:03.269 --> 02:05.730 in estimated damages for a 500 year 02:05.739 --> 02:08.009 flood . The partners developed an 02:08.020 --> 02:10.187 implementation approach where the work 02:10.187 --> 02:12.409 is split between the Corps of engineers 02:12.409 --> 02:14.187 and the nonfederal sponsors for 02:14.187 --> 02:16.353 simultaneous design and construction . 02:16.353 --> 02:18.520 The Corps of Engineers is building the 02:18.520 --> 02:20.409 southern embankment in all of its 02:20.409 --> 02:22.520 associated features . The metro flood 02:22.520 --> 02:24.742 diversion authority is constructing the 02:24.742 --> 02:26.742 diversion channel in its associated 02:26.742 --> 02:28.853 infrastructure using a public private 02:28.853 --> 02:30.798 partnership A P three with the Red 02:30.798 --> 02:32.909 River Valley Alliance . This delivery 02:32.909 --> 02:35.089 method split delivery with P three is 02:35.100 --> 02:37.899 resulting in a time savings of 10 years 02:37.910 --> 02:40.132 when compared to traditional delivery . 02:40.250 --> 02:42.361 The innovative nature of this project 02:42.361 --> 02:44.389 has required all parties to learn , 02:44.399 --> 02:47.020 adapt and collaborate . The project 02:47.029 --> 02:48.807 team is composed of hundreds of 02:48.807 --> 02:51.309 dedicated professionals with expertise 02:51.320 --> 02:54.649 drawn from the local area across the 02:54.660 --> 02:56.660 nation and even the world . All our 02:56.660 --> 02:58.549 partners united in protecting the 02:58.549 --> 03:00.919 citizens of Fargo warhead metropolitan 03:00.929 --> 03:03.630 area and proud to be the recipient of 03:03.639 --> 03:05.806 the National Academy of Construction , 03:05.929 --> 03:07.869 recognition of special achievement .