UP to bolster line straddling Iowa, Minnesota

Union Pacific Railroad plans to spend $17.5 million to improve a line between Butterfield, Minn., and near Mason City, Iowa. The project began April 8 and is scheduled for completion by mid-July.

Crews will replace 119,300 ties, install 50,775 tons of ballast and renew surfaces at 168 grade crossings. The project is one of nearly 1,500 the railroad plans to complete across its network this year to improve operating efficiency, reduce motorists' wait times at crossings and enhance safety.

UP's 2014 engineering plan includes a $1.7 billion budget for infrastructure replacement and $680 million spending plan for capacity work and commercial facilities. To learn more about UP's planned maintenance-of-way work this year — as well as work planned by other Class Is, regionals, short lines and passenger railroads — follow this link to access the 2014 MOW Spending Report in Progressive Railroading's April issue.