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Union Pacific Railroad plans to spend more than $50 million to improve lines in four states.

The Class I is budgeting $22 million to improve a line between Dupo and Fults, Ill. To be completed in July, the project calls for installing about 48 miles of new rail, replacing six switches and renewing road surfaces at 89 grade crossings.

UP also will spend more than $20 million to upgrade a 26-mile line from Manville to Lusk, Wyo. To be completed in mid-June, the work includes removing and installing new rail and more than 67,000 concrete ties, and spreading more than 86,000 tons of ballast.

Meanwhile, an $8.5 million project calls for upgrading a line between Clinton and Blairstown, Iowa. Crews will remove and install 54,000 ties, replace 2.5 miles of rail in curves, spread 33,500 tons of ballast and renew road surfaces at 79 crossings. All work is scheduled to be completed in November.

The Class I also will spend more than $3 million to upgrade a line between Jefferson City and California, Mo. To be completed next month, the project calls for removing and installing more than 22,000 ties, spreading more than 11,000 tons of ballast and renewing road surfaces at 31 crossings.

UP also announced it received UnitedHealth Group’s 2010 Apex Award, which recognizes companies’ efforts to improve the health-care system. The railroad has reduced management employees’ and company prescription drug costs an average of 9 percent annually the past three years by implementing a customized mandatory mail order program and educating workers on prescription drug options, according to UP.