(The following story by Pete Graham appeared on the Missouri Valley Times website on June 1.)
MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa — About 170 specialized crew members utilizing state-of-the-art equipment began replacement of concrete and wooden ties along the double main line track through Missouri Valley this week. The work began west of town at Italy Avenue.
The crew works from a long train containing its specialized equipment. As a result, Willow Road from Subway north to the tracks is closed and will be for several days.
Later, according to City Administrator Bob Alborn, the railroad will close both 6th and 9th street crossings at the same time so that the work can progress eastward through town.
Alborn said at the city council meeting, Tuesday, the railroad is aware of the need for emergency vehicles to get to a point south of the main line. He said he thought there was little anyone could do to alleviate the situation. Crews will work rapidly.
The project will cost $20 million and the improvements will stretch from Carroll southward to Council Bluffs. Crews will replace and install 71,900 concrete ties and 13,600 wooden ties, while spreading 127,000 tons of rock ballast. The surfaces of 32 grade crossings will be replaced.
Up to 20 freight trains daily will operate on the old Illinois Central line (now Canadian National/IL) running from Arion to Council Bluffs. Several grade crossings are in Harrison County. Most have no lights or signal arms, so motorists should be cautious.
U.P. spokesman Mark Davis in Omaha said Thursday that U.P. officials will work closely with the street or roads department wherever they are replacing ties to see that streets or roads are closed only when they have determined the best way to allow for emergency vehicle pass-through. How long will the massive project take? Davis said, “Typically, these projects take up to three months. The one in the Missouri Valley area may take until mid-July. While the ties themselves are rapidly installed, a project of this magnitude requires quite a bit of clean up and work on grade crossings.”
Prestressed concrete ties and concrete grade crossings are utilized on Class 1 railroads such as the U.P. because of the long trains with double-stacked containers netting about 39 tons per axle load weights modern railroads operate. The ties last longer, cut maintenance, sway less and have produced fuel savings for the railroad. While large crews of workers are needed for replacement projects, there is a high level of automation as the crews move quickly along the line.