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Union Pacific Railroad recently began two track improvement projects in Nebraska and Illinois.

The $21.6 million Nebraska project calls for upgrading the Central Nebraska Line between Columbus and Central City. By month’s end, crews will remove wood ties and install 76,700 concrete ties, replace 29 miles of rail, spread 91,350 tons of ballast, install four new switches and replace surfaces at six grade crossings.

The $8 million Illinois project calls for upgrading the Northeast Illinois Line between Dolton and Woodland. To be completed by mid-December, the project includes the removal and installation of 53,900 ties, replacement of more than one mile of rail on curves and installation of 29,700 tons of ballast.

The projects are part of UP’s $3.1 billion capital spending budget for 2008. Since 2003, the railroad has spent $869.6 million on capital projects in Nebraska and $534.7 million on capital projects in Illinois.