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Union Pacific Railroad plans to spend $14.4 million to upgrade a 55-mile line between Kansas City and Topeka, Kan.

To be completed by year’s end, the project involves replacing nearly 11 miles of rail and about a mile of rail in various curves, replacing 52,400 ties and 14 switches, spreading 21,400 tons of ballast and renewing surfaces at 83 grade crossings. The work is part of UP’s $3.6 billion capital spending program for 2012.

Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) directing Norfolk Southern Railway and the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Co. (W&LE) to install flashing lights and gates at three crossings.

NS must complete the work at the Station Avenue and Mill Street crossings in Arlington Heights by Jan. 11, 2013, and W&LE must complete work at the Kohler Road crossing in Sugar Creek Township by April 11, 2013. The Arlington Heights project will be covered by federal funds; Sugar Creek Township project costs will be shared by PUCO, ORDC and W&LE.