UP unveils infrastructure upgrade plans for New Mexico, Utah, Washington

Union Pacific Railroad recently announced multimillion-dollar infrastructure improvement plans for the states of New Mexico, Utah and Washington.

In New Mexico, UP plans to spend $11.5 million this year — $11 million to maintain track and $196,000 to maintain bridges. A key project: UP has set aside $4 million to replace 22,091 ties and install 7,791 tons of ballast on a line between Lordsburg, N.M., and the Grant-Luna county line.

In Utah, the railroad will spend $15.8 million in 2016 — $7.9 million to maintain track and $7.8 million to maintain bridges. Key projects include a $1.1 million plan to replace almost two miles of curve rail in the Lynndyl Subdivision south of Delta, and a $895,000 project to replace more than one mile of curve rail in the Provo Subdivision north of Helper.

And in Washington, UP is investing $14.3 million this year, most of it ($13.6 million) to maintain track and the rest ($741,000) to maintain bridges. The railroad will spend nearly $10 million to replace about 19 miles in the Ayer Subdivision north of Wallula, Wash. UP also has set aside $475,000 to replace about one mile of curve rail in Spokane.