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Yesterday, Union Pacific Railroad crews began a $3.8 million track improvement project between Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Fremont, Neb.

The project calls for removing and installing 14,000 ties, spreading 3,000 tons of rock ballast, replacing road surfaces at 21 grade crossings and installing four crossovers. Trackwork will be completed in about one week and crossing surface work will be completed by mid-September.  

The project is part of UP's $1.6 billion capital spending program for 2008.

Meanwhile, UP also announced it's among 15 winners of the U.S. Department of Defense's 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Awards. Instituted in 1996, the awards recognize companies that provide outstanding support to employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

The defense department considered a record 2,199 nominees for the awards. A national selection board comprising senior defense officials and business leaders selected the recipients.