HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Questions from the Reno County Commission in regards to the 43rd Avenue bridge construction and their dealings with the Union Pacific Railroad were a part of a recent agenda session. And the railroad took time to respond.
Commissioner Daniel Friesen expressed his frustration during a recent meeting that the cost of the span was so high and says the railroad is mostly to blame. UP mandated that they have right of way for three tracks under the bridge and access roads. The mandate forced the county to build a more expensive style of bridge. Friesen says he wants to go to the legislature to see if there is a better way in dealing with railroads when it comes to such projects.
Kristin South with Union Pacific says such requests are a standard policy for the railroad noting that they are looking 50-75 years into the future and the continued expansion of rail traffic. The railroad has expressed a desire in the past to place a siding on the mostly single track line to cut down the distance between its two closest sidings in Inman and Whiteside.
South says no such plans are in the immediate future. The railroad is planning to expand the siding at Whiteside and that work should last throughout the summer.
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