UP charts infrastructure projects in Missouri, Arizona

Union Pacific Railroad plans to spend a total of $91.7 million this year to improve its infrastructure in Missouri and Arizona, the Class I announced this week.

In Missouri, UP has budgeted $54 million, with $37.7 million going toward track maintenance and $15.5 million toward bridge maintenance, according to a UP press release.

Key initiatives in Missouri will include a $9.6 million project to replace 71,000 ties and install 29,000 tons of ballast between Annapolis and Poplar Bluff; and a $9.1 million project to replace more than 70,000 ties and install 22,000 tons of ballast between Valley Park, Pacific, Washington and Jefferson City.

In Arizona, UP expects to spend $29 million to maintain track and $7.3 million to maintain bridges. Allocations will include $17.6 million to replace 180,099 ties on the rail line between Yuma and Casa Grande, and $5.1 million to replace 5,756 ties and almost 3 miles of curve rail along the line between Vail, Ariz., and El Paso, Texas.

This year's $91.7 million in allocations in the two states is part of UP's ongoing investment strategy. From 2011 to 2015, the Class I spent more than $195 million to strengthen infrastructure in Missouri and $107 million to strengthen infrastructure in Arizona.