CN to invest $505 million in projects across four states

The projects in Illinois, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Louisiana are part of the Class I railroad’s $2.9 billion capital investment budgeted for 2019.

   Canadian National Railway announced Monday it will invest $505 million in capital projects this year across Illinois, Louisiana, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
   Illinois’ projects are budgeted to receive the most money among the four states — $190 million — which includes investments to add capacity to the Joliet Intermodal Terminal. CN also will replace more than 11 miles of the 1,254 miles of railroad it operates in the state, install about 88,000 new railroad ties and rebuild 53 road crossing surfaces.
   The Class I railroad also plans to invest $120 million in Wisconsin, including the construction of eight miles of double track near Hawthorne, the replacement of more than 35 miles of the 1,429 miles of railroad route miles operated, the rebuild of 80 road crossing surfaces and the installation of about 90,000 new railroad ties.
   CN’s capital investment in Tennessee calls for $100 million for the replacement of more than 15 miles of rain, the installation of about 95,000 new railroad ties and the rebuild of 17 road crossing surfaces. The company operates 173 miles of railroad in the state.
   CN plans to invest $95 million in projects in Louisiana, including a multiyear project to rebuild the two-mile-long bridge over the spillway near the southwest shore of Lake Pontchartrain in the southeastern portion of the state. The company also plans to replace more than 15 miles of the 240 miles of railroad it operates, install about 55,000 new railroad ties and rebuild 18 road crossing surfaces.
   The budgets for all four states, part of CN’s $2.9 billion capital investment, also include maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure. The plans for Illinois, Wisconsin and Louisiana additionally include investments for the development of the Positive Train Control System.