BNSF to start work on Oklahoma rail reconstruction soon
Written by jrood
Rail reconstruction, made possible by $4 million in stimulus funds, has started on the BNSF line extending from downtown north Shawnee, Okla., to the industrial park, the Shawnee News Star reports.
"It is stimulus for sure,"
Brenda Perry, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, said.
Gov. Brad Henry helped
secure $8 million for this project, as well as a riverbank stabilization
project along the Union Pacific line from Shawnee to Oklahoma City. Work is
expected to begin within the next month.
"BNSF would like to begin
as soon as possible," Joseph Faust, spokesman for BNSF, said.
Once work begins, Faust
said, track conditions will be improved. He also said crews may have to close
railroad crossings to do the rehabilitation work.
Perry said rehabilitation
that began several weeks ago continues on the UP line operated by A-OK
Railroad.
Henry made the decision to
provide federal dollars for the projects after the U.S. Department of
Transportation rejected an application for a $32-million Transportation
Investment Generating Economic Recovery discretionary grant, the state hoped to
use to make improvements along the lines.
Because stimulus funds will
provide about 25 percent of the total budgeted needs for improvements,
only
four areas along the bank of the North Canadian will be shored up. At least
eight areas of concern were noted prior to receipt of the stimulus funds.
David Streb, ODOT director
of engineering, said the rail line has experienced problems with flooding in
the past.
