(The Associated Press circulated the following on September 17.)
DES MOINES, Iowa —Union Pacific Railroad said it plans to spend $8.2 million this year on track improvements between Des Moines and Kansas City, Mo.
The project includes removal and installation of 55,400 ties, spreading of 10,700 tons of rock ballast, replacing the surfaces at 31 road crossings and replacing 2 1/2 miles of rail in various curves on the line.
Work began in January and is scheduled to be completed by January 2008.
Crews are currently replacing 33,000 wooden ties between Williamson and near Chariton and are scheduled to be finished with that work late next month.
Beginning in early November, crews will begin replacing 22,400 ties between Lock Springs, Mo. and near Tindall, Mo. That work should be completed by January 2008, the company said in a statement.
The improvements are part of a $1.5 billion Union Pacific plan to maintain track across its more than 32,300-mile system.
Union Pacific Corp. (NYSE:UNP) operates the rail line which links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country. It also connects to rail lines in Canada and Mexico.