FARGO, N.D. — An attorney for proponents of a Red River diversion project says opponents should decide whether they are going to ask a judge to halt the start of construction.

Backers of the channel around Fargo and Moorhead want preliminary work to begin on a gated inlet structure this fall. An attorney for upstream opponents said in July that he would be filing an injunction in order to halt the first phase of the project.

Diversion authority attorney Robert Cattanach said in court documents that the uncertainty over the timing of a request for an injunction may complicate “numerous regulatory, financial and political” decisions that need to be made.

Cattanach said the delay could affect a November vote on whether Cass County citizens should extend sales taxes pledged to the project.