Union Pacific Railroad is spending $4.9 million this year in Casa Grande, Ariz., constructing two "staging" tracks to support continuing growth in area businesses that transport materials and goods by rail.

Crews began preparing the site for track construction in July, with construction beginning in August. Each track will be 6,000 feet long and will be able to handle 100 cars per track. The project is scheduled to be completed in December. Fifty-five Union Pacific employees will work on the construction project.

These improvements are part of the $180 million Union Pacific is planning to spend in 2006 to enhance commercial facilities across its more than 32,400-mile system.