File: Aerial view of Nielsville/Cummings Bridge damage (Photo: Polk County Highway Department)
FARGO (KFGO) – The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $24 million federal grant to replace three severely deteriorated bridges spanning the Red River between North Dakota and Minnesota, the state’s congressional delegation announced Wednesday.
The funding, allocated through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program, will replace three historic crossings that have long outlived their operational lifespans: the Nielsville Bridge, the Hendrum Bridge, and the Georgetown Bridge.
Years of structural neglect have left the critical agricultural corridors heavily compromised. One of the bridges is currently closed to all traffic, while the remaining two are bound by strict weight restrictions. Local officials say the closures have crippled regional freight transit, forced lengthy detours for farmers, and slowed emergency response times.
The cross-border project was spearheaded by a joint application from Norman County, Minnesota, alongside two North Dakota counties and three Minnesota counties impacted by the deteriorating infrastructure.
U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, pushed for the funding and noted that restoring these corridors is vital to the local economy.
“Replacing these bridges is an important priority for communities on both sides of the Red River, especially farmers in this region,” Hoeven said. “Doing so will not only support economic activity by better enabling the movement of freight and commercial goods, but it will improve the quality of life for local residents.”
The project will overhaul the outdated river crossings by replacing three aging Parker steel high truss bridges with modern, clear-span designs featuring 850-foot abutments. The three bridges slated for replacement are:
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The Nielsville Bridge (North Dakota Bridge 49-129-10.0): Located in Traill County near Cummings, North Dakota, connecting across the river to Polk County near Nielsville, Minnesota.
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The Hendrum Bridge (North Dakota Bridge 49-131-28.0): Located in Traill County, North Dakota, connecting to Norman County near Hendrum, Minnesota.
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The Georgetown Bridge (North Dakota Bridge 09-142-10.0): Located in Cass County, North Dakota, connecting to Clay County near Georgetown, Minnesota.
U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, credited the funding to the reauthorization of infrastructure programs under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“The Red River divides North Dakota and Minnesota, and the bridges joining them are essential to these rural sister communities,” Cramer said. “After years of local work, this investment will help replace three aging bridges to keep communities safe and ensure the efficient transportation of goods and services across state lines.”
The North Dakota delegation, including Hoeven, Cramer, and Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., formally lobbied Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for the grant earlier this year, citing the economic hardships rural communities faced without reliable surface transportation.
Project Timeline
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Late 2026: Finalization of the project’s engineering and design phase.
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2027: Construction is scheduled to officially begin.
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2029: Target date for project completion and bridge openings.
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