The crews working on the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP) enjoyed a longer than typical construction season thanks to mild spring and fall weather in 2025. Construction activities continued into December with a total of 12 miles of transmission pipe installed to date this year. That brings the total amount of pipe in the ground to 29.75 miles of the 125-mile pipeline.

Carstensen Contracting Inc. worked on installing 72-inch transmission pipeline for Contracts 5D and 6A this year. Contract 5D includes 10 miles of pipeline and a trenchless crossing of Pipestem Creek in western Foster County and eastern Wells County. All 10 miles are installed on Contract 5D. There are 7.1-miles of pipeline in Contract 6A, and 2.65 are in the ground. This portion of the project runs from the James River to Eastman Township in Foster County. Carstensen Contracting crews will return in 2026 to finish restoration on 5D and continue pipeline installation on 6A.

Oscar Renda Contracting will return in 2026 to install the one mile remaining on the eight-mile 5C contract and initiate the land restoration process. Garney Construction finished the restoration on Contract 5B this year.

“We were blessed with weather that cooperated this year, which allowed us to make a lot of progress on the transmission pipeline,” says Kip Kovar, Deputy Program Manager for RRVWSP Engineering and Garrison Diversion Conservancy District Engineer. “Now we’re looking ahead to awarding Contracts 6B, 6C, and 7A.”

The three projects will extend the buried transmission pipeline east. Contract 6B includes a 9.2-mile stretch of pipe from McKinnon Township to Sutton Township in Foster and Griggs Counties. It involves one 96-inch diameter trenchless crossing of a jurisdictional wetland. Contract 6C runs 8.4 miles from Sutton Township to Revere Township in Griggs County. 6C also incorporates two 96-inch diameter trenchless crossings of jurisdictional wetlands and one 96-inch diameter trenchless crossing of a BNSF railroad. Contract 7A is 6.5 miles of pipeline from Revere Township to Cooperstown in Griggs County, including three 96-inch diameter trenchless crossings of jurisdictional wetlands. The results of the bid process will be announced in the first quarter of 2026 RRVWSP newsletter.