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Railroad Crossing Closings
The UP track replacement project will consists of the following:
1. Replacement of total roadbed, rail, and tie. New rail, concrete
ties, and new
cleaned rock will replace the existing conditions; tills will
improve drainage and
provide a smoother operation of the trains (noise reduction
anticipated). The new
rail that is laid down comes in 1/4 mile long strings. It will then
be welded into one
continuous string, hence the reason for the long closure distance.
2. New concrete ties will be installed at all crossings with
concrete crossing pads
that are welded together on the ends, this provides a smoother
crossing surface
and will eliminate the existing rough crossing areas for vehicular
travel. The
machine that puts down the ties is a 1/4 mile long and the train
that picks up the old
rail is I/.t mile long.
3. The existing asphalt on the approaches to each rail crossing will
need to be cut
back eight feet from the rail prior to removal and replacement of
the rails . This
will be replaced with new asphalt that in turn will provide a
smoother approach
and transition area to the crossing itself.
The Union Pacific believes doing this project will not only improve
the crossings but the trains will operate smoother, quieter, and be
more efficient. This will expedite the time spent at road crossings
waiting for trains to clear, which will benefit the local
commW1ities as well as the Union Pacific Railroad
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