Iowa rail infrastructure to receive $68 million in investments
Posted: 13 June 2017 | | No comments yet
Union Pacific is boosting safety and efficiency with an approximately $68 million infrastructure investment in Iowa in 2017.
Union Pacific is boosting safety and efficiency with an approximately $68 million infrastructure investment in Iowa in 2017.
A range of initiatives have been planned for the investment, including spending $55 million to maintain railroad tracks and $10 million to maintain bridges throughout the state.
“Maintaining a healthy railroad is the foundation of our ability to serve customers and communities across the state”
“Union Pacific’s targeted investments fund projects that strengthen our railroad tracks, increase safety and minimise delays as trains travel through communities across Iowa,” said Donna Kush, Union Pacific vice president of Public Affairs, Northern Region. “Maintaining a healthy railroad is the foundation of our ability to serve customers and communities across the state.”
Key projects planned by Union Pacific for 2017 include:
- A $5 million investment in the rail line between Garden City and Bradford to replace 25 miles of rail
- A $10 million investment to replace the bridge over Abbe Creek in Bertram.
The $68 million capital expenditure in Iowa is part of an ongoing investment strategy with Union Pacific investing over $330 million between 2012 and 2016 on strengthening Iowa’s transportation infrastructure.
In total, Union Pacific plans to spend $3.1 billion across its network this year. The company has invested $51 billion since 2000, contributing to a 40% decrease in derailments during the same time frame.