Union Pacific plans to pour this year some $58 million into upgrading and replacing parts of its rail lines in Louisiana, the railroad company announced today.
The Spring, Texas-based company says in a news release that the upgrades will enhance safety and increase efficiency along the railways. Of the $58 million, some $52 million will be spent on maintaining railroad tracks, while another $6 million will go to bridge upkeep.
Key Union Pacific projects in Louisiana for 2016 include: replacing 29 miles of rail between Iowa and Sulphur at a cost of $13 million; replacing 44,140 railroad ties and installing 22,144 tons of rock ballast between Dequincy and Kinder for $6 million; and spending another $6 million to replace 42,525 railroad ties and install 22,666 tons of rock ballast between Lawtell and Livonia.
The $58 million expense in Louisiana is part of an ongoing capital expenditure for Union Pacific. The railroad company says it spent more than $619 million between 2011 and 2015 to strengthen its transportation infrastructure in this state.
“Continuing to aggressively invest in our infrastructure is an important element in Union Pacific’s unwavering safety commitment,” says Brenda Mainwaring, the vice president of public affairs for Union Pacific’s Southern Region, in a statement.
Union Pacific says it plans to spend some $3.75 billion across its network this year for railway upgrades after shelling out $33 billion from 2006 to 2015. The investments helped lead to a 25% decrease in derailments over the last 10 years, the company says.
