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Last month, Norfolk Southern Corp.’s maintenance-of-way and structures department completed a $21 million trackwork project in seven days along a primary coal route in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Crews performed track, signal and bridge improvements on the Mon Line, which extends about 85 miles from Pittsburgh to coal mines in Washington and Greene counties. About 20 trains use the line daily.

Scheduled to coincide with coal miners' annual summer break, the maintenance "blitz” was completed between July 4 and 10 and involved nearly 600 engineering employees. The work included the installation of more than 56,000 ties and 19 miles of new rail, rehabilitation and repavement of 23 public grade crossings, replacement of one bridge and improvements to two other bridges.  Crews used six work trains and more than 100 pieces of large machinery.

Under normal curfew conditions, the project typically would take three months to complete, according to NS.

“Because the Mon Line is critical to Pennsylvania’s coal industry, every year in early July we undertake an intensive effort to maintain and improve the rail infrastructure to ensure that the mines continue to receive consistent and reliable service,” said NS Vice President of Engineering Tim Drake in a prepared statement.