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RAIL EMPLOYMENT & NOTICES



Rail News Home Maintenance Of Way

1/27/2005



Rail News: Maintenance Of Way

KCS sets infrastructure improvement agenda for Meridian Speedway


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This year, Kansas City Southern expects to complete a number of projects on its Meridian, Miss.-to-Shreveport, La., "Meridian Speedway" to boost capacity, improve safety and expedite traffic moving through a corridor between the southeast and southwest U.S., and Mexico.

The Class I plans to spend $3.5 million to upgrade 11 track miles east of Vicksburg, Miss. To be completed in the second quarter, the project includes installing ties, laying rail across a Mississippi River bridge, replacing 115-pound secondhand rail with 136-pound rail, undercutting track, and building a 9,000-foot siding and drainage system.

KCS also plans to spend $2 million to install centralized traffic control on 17 track miles between Bovay, La., and Smiths, Miss., through Vicksburg.

As part of other planned projects along the speedway, the Class I will:
• install 18 sets of crossing signals and gates, and upgrade 22 crossing surfaces as part of a joint $10 million, five-year project with the Mississippi Department of Transportation;
• add two new departure and receiving tracks at High Oak Yard near Jackson;
• grade the site for two new main tracks west of High Oak Yard; and
• develop plans for an overpass in Pearl designed to relieve traffic congestion east of the yard.