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Canadian Pacific Railway June 20 announced that it has begun work on a $33 million project to improve its 3,300-mile mainline from Chicago, through Wisconsin and Minnesota, to northwestern North Dakota.
CPR plans to spend $9 million replacing 21.5 miles of curved track with 136-pound continuous-welded rail, and 15 miles of sidings and yard track. Of that total, the CPR will spend $3.9 million to replace 22 miles of track between Rosemont and Comus, Minn.
The railroad also plans to spend $16.6 million replacing 195,000 wood ties; $6.6 million replacing and repairing bridges; and $1.1 million renewing grade crossings.
Under the tie portion of the trackwork, CPR is planning five major projects, including replacing 40,000 ties between Paynesville and Glenwood, Minn., and 45,000 ties between La Crosse, Wis., and Wabasha, Minn.
The largest bridge project is a continuation of a $4 million effort CPR began last summer to rebuild a 1902 bridge crossing the Mississippi River at La Crosse. In 2000, the railroad's crews installed new concrete and steel-pile foundations; this year, CPR plans to complete piers and change out spans. All work is scheduled to be complete in fall.