UP unveils infrastructure upgrades in Arizona, Washington

Union Pacific Railroad this year will invest nearly $60 million in its infrastructure in Arizona and Washington.

In Arizona, the Class I has budgeted $26.5 million to improve rail infrastructure. That sum includes $14.5 million to maintain track and $3.2 million to maintain bridges in the state.

Key investments include $4.5 million to replace 8 miles of rail through Yuma, and $6 million to replace 42,869 ties and install 19,077 tons of ballast between Wilcox, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas.

Over the past five years, the railroad has spent more than $226 million on its Arizona infrastructure, UP officials said in a press release.

Meanwhile, UP announced plans to spend spend $29.8 million on track maintenance and $7.98 million on bridge maintenance in Washington.

UP has set aside $10.3 million to replace 18 miles of rail between Washtucna and Wallula along the Ayer subdivision. Additionally, UP will spend $7.6 million to replace more than 58,700 ties along that subdivision.

UP also has allocated $4.3 million to replace more than 30,400 ties between Tukwila and Tacoma along its Seattle subdivision.

Over the past five years, UP has invested more than $52.6 million on its Washington infrastructure.