FARGO, N.D. (AP) – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has granted a permit for an updated plan of a Red River diversion project meant to protect flood-prone Fargo and Moorhead, Minnesota.

The DNR in October 2016 denied a permit for the original project, leading a federal judge to stop construction that had started southwest of Fargo. The new design is meant to reduce impacts to land in Richland County in North Dakota and Minnesota’s Wilkin County. It takes about 8,000 acres out of the flood plain south of the metro area and sends more water through the cities.

The permit includes more than 50 conditions governing project design, construction, operation, and maintenance.

Diversion officials say the changes to the plan and construction delays have increased costs by $600 million, to about $2.75 billion.