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On Sept. 18, Clark County, Wash., plans to begin to upgrading a 14-mile stretch of the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad between Rye Junction and Battle Ground.

Scheduled to conclude Dec. 15, the rail rehabilitation project calls for installing new ties and ballast, surfacing track and reconstructing two grade crossings. The project will improve track conditions to accommodate an expected increase in traffic volume during the next 15 years, according to officials of Clark County, which owns the 33-mile short line.

In July, the county awarded a contract to West Rail Construction to complete the line upgrades. The Washington State Department of Transportation has provided a $1.1 million rail emergent grant to fund the project.

Later this month, the county will seek contractor bids for culvert repair work along the line.

The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad also is known as the Lewis and Clark Railroad or Clark County Railroad. The Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad provides freight operation services on a line segment from Heisson to the south under a long-term operating contract with the county.