Union Pacific to perform $508 million in work among three states

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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UP has invested $2.7 billion in Texas between 2010-2014, including work on Tower 55.
Union Pacific

Union Pacific released state investment plans for Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma that the railroad says will enhance community safety, as well as improve railroad efficiency.

 

Texas will see the largest investment out of the three state plans with $383 million being invested toward track and signal improvements in 2015. UP has already invested $2.7 billion strengthening its Texas rail infrastructure between 2010 and 2014. The railroad plans to spend $289 million to maintain railroad track, $18 million to enhance signal systems and $75 million to maintain or replace bridges in the state.

Additional projects in Texas the railroad plans to progress this year include $14 million in the rail line southwest of Dalhart to replace 27 miles of rail and repair the surfaces at 13 road crossings; $11 million in the rail line near Sierra Blanca to replace 20 miles of rail and repair the surfaces at six road crossings and $12 million in the rail line between Waco and Hearne to replace 81,077 railroad ties, install 59,435 tons of ballast and repair the surfaces of 114 road crossings.

Union Pacific will add another $98 million investment to the $663 million it has spent between 2010 and 2014 to its Arkansas property.

The investment covers $81 million to maintain track, $8 million to enhance signal systems and $8 million to maintain or replace bridges in the state. Additional key projects planned this year for Arkansas include $23 million for the rail line between Gould and the border with Louisiana to replace 44 miles of rail and repair the surfaces at 65 road crossings; $9.7 million for the rail line between Knoxville and Van Buren to replace 65,251 railroad ties, install 28,107 tons of ballast and repair the surfaces at 62 crossings and $7.1 million for the rail line between Hope and Texarkana to replace 50,383 ties, install 21,910 tons of ballast and repair 40 crossing surfaces.

Last, Oklahoma’s Union Pacific property will see $27 million in work, which will be in addition to the $236 million the railroad spent between 2010 and 2014 to enhance the state’s rail lines.

UP’s Oklahoma investment includes $23 million to maintain track, $634,000 to enhance signal systems and $3 million to maintain or replace bridges in the state.

Key projects UP plans to work on this year in Oklahoma include $13 million for the rail line between Big Cabin and Rentiesville to replace 84,820 ties, install 40,249 tons of ballast and repair the surfaces 89 road crossings and $3 million for the rail line between the Oklahoma/Kansas line and Wagoner to replace 23,939 ties, install 332 tons of ballast.

Union Pacific plans to spend $4.2 billion across its network this year, following investments totaling more than $31 billion from 2005-2014.

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