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Last week, the Federal Railroad Administration announced it will provide Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) two grants totaling $38.8 to improve infrastructure and design a line extension.

The railroad will receive a $24.8 million grant to replace 30 miles of jointed rail with continuous-welded rail, install 16,000 ties, stabilize track subgrades, prevent rock slides on tracks near Healy Canyon, build track at the Fairbanks Intermodal Facility, and replace or rehabilitate nine bridges.

ARRC also will obtain a $14 million grant to help fund preliminary engineering and environmental studies for an 80-mile line extension. The railroad plans to extend a line to connect Eielson Air Force Base near the North Pole to Fort Greely near Delta Junction. ARRC will use the grant to study a realignment and track improvement project along 20 miles between Fort Wainwright and Moose Creek.