A rail expansion project in La Crosse is among the $120 million investments BNSF Railway is making in Wisconsin this year.
The money will go towards operations and maintenance, like repairing bridges and replacing ties. It will also upgrade signals and fund a new, second track that will run four miles through La Crosse.
Some work has begun on the controversial La Crosse project, but BNSF is still waiting for a federal permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build in the city’s marsh.
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BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said the demand for rail shipments is on the rise. She said the the construction will move trains more efficiently and could improve safety.
“Investing in our network is a key component of that. By replacing rail, replacing ties, maintaining a strong infrastructure, that certainly is a key component to prevention efforts,” said McBeth.
BNSF is investing $6 billion towards track improvements nationally, which is a record for the company.
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