UP budgets $58 million for Louisiana trackwork

Union Pacific Railroad plans to spend $58 million to upgrade and maintain its rail network in Louisiana this year, the Class I announced late last week.

The planned investment covers a range of initiatives in the state, including $52 million to maintain track and $6 million to maintain bridges, UP officials said in a press release.

Key investments planned this year in Louisiana include:

• $13 million to replace rail between Iowa and Sulphur;

• $6 million to replace 44,140 ties and install 22,144 tons of ballast between Dequincy and Kinder; and

• $6 million to replace 42,525 ties and install 22,666 tons of ballast between Lawtell and Livonia.

From 2011 to 2015, UP spent more than $619 million on its rail infrastructure in the state. The Louisiana budget breakdown is UP’s latest in a series of announcements outlining the railroad’s state-by-state plans to maintain and upgrade infrastructure. The Class I previously issued announcements for work planned in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas.

"We constantly evaluate our customers' needs to make targeted investments that enhance our efficiency and deliver the goods American businesses and families use daily," said Brenda Mainwaring, UP vice president of public affairs-Southern region.