MONROE - A $4.2 million project to improve the railroad corridor between Monroe and Janesville is expected to be completed by Monday, Nov. 15.
The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, based in Milwaukee, is doing the work to improve the track to meet current and future rail service demands, said railroad spokesman Ken Lucht, manager of community development.
Lucht said the line provides service three days a week or more, based on customer demand. There are three businesses in Monroe, two in Brodhead and one in Orfordville that rely on the railroad to deliver ethanol, carbon dioxide and grain.
Every year, nearly 500,000 tons are transported over the railroad between Monroe and Janesville and that amount is expected to increase in the next three years, Lucht said.
"By 2013, we estimate we'll transport about 670,000 tons of products," he said.
Businesses along the line will continue to increase production, and they'll rely on the railroad to transport those products, he added.
Anna Schramke, Green County economic development coordinator, said the railroad is a "valuable resource" for the county.
"It's important to the county's infrastructure," she said. "It's good for not only existing businesses but for businesses that might want to locate in Green County. It's an efficient way to transport goods, whether they be raw materials or finished products."
Lucht said the Federal Railroad Administration expects train service to increase by about 90 percent by 2035. As more companies realize the cost savings of using rail transportion, officials anticipate greater demand, he said.
The work on the railroad corridor was funded by a state grant of $3.3 million, which paid for 80 percent of the project. The remaining cost, $1.9 million, was paid by Wisconsin & Southern Railroad and the Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission.
The project required a crew of 30 employees and began last summer. Workers installed 40,000 new railroad ties and 18,000 tons of coarse rock.
The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, based in Milwaukee, is doing the work to improve the track to meet current and future rail service demands, said railroad spokesman Ken Lucht, manager of community development.
Lucht said the line provides service three days a week or more, based on customer demand. There are three businesses in Monroe, two in Brodhead and one in Orfordville that rely on the railroad to deliver ethanol, carbon dioxide and grain.
Every year, nearly 500,000 tons are transported over the railroad between Monroe and Janesville and that amount is expected to increase in the next three years, Lucht said.
"By 2013, we estimate we'll transport about 670,000 tons of products," he said.
Businesses along the line will continue to increase production, and they'll rely on the railroad to transport those products, he added.
Anna Schramke, Green County economic development coordinator, said the railroad is a "valuable resource" for the county.
"It's important to the county's infrastructure," she said. "It's good for not only existing businesses but for businesses that might want to locate in Green County. It's an efficient way to transport goods, whether they be raw materials or finished products."
Lucht said the Federal Railroad Administration expects train service to increase by about 90 percent by 2035. As more companies realize the cost savings of using rail transportion, officials anticipate greater demand, he said.
The work on the railroad corridor was funded by a state grant of $3.3 million, which paid for 80 percent of the project. The remaining cost, $1.9 million, was paid by Wisconsin & Southern Railroad and the Pecatonica Rail Transit Commission.
The project required a crew of 30 employees and began last summer. Workers installed 40,000 new railroad ties and 18,000 tons of coarse rock.