UP plans $70 million in projects for Colorado, Idaho

Union Pacific Railroad announced capital expenditure plans for rail infrastructure in Idaho and Colorado this year.

In Colorado, UP will spend $36 million on track and bridge work.

Among the scheduled projects are a $6 million effort to replace 34,148 ties and install 24,338 tons of ballast on the rail line between Denver and Rollinsville; and a $4.5 million effort to replace 31,662 ties and install 24,165 tons of ballast on the line between Bond and Phippsburg, UP officials said in a press release.

Additionally, UP will spend $1 million to maintain bridges in Colorado.

In Idaho, UP will invest about $34.1 million in projects to maintain track and bridges.

Key Idaho projects will include $13.3 million to replace 29 miles of rail on the line between Athol and Eastport; $9.9 million to clean and replace ballast between Athol and Naples; and $1.8 million to replace 8,265 ties.

From 2012 to 2016, UP invested more than $206 million to strengthen its Idaho infrastructure. During that same period, the Class I spent more than $253 million on infrastructure projects in Colorado.

UP expects to invest a total $3.1 billion across its network this year.