HUTCHINSON, Kan. — BNSF announced today it will spend $130 million dollars in Kansas this year. The funding is part of more than $3.3 billion in work announced by the railroad last month.

The second-largest railroad in the nation and second-highest property taxpayer in Reno County plans to rebuild two bridges over the Marais des Cygnes River between Emporia and Ottawa that were built in 1945. That project will start in the next few weeks and should be completed in early 2019. Once all of the ground and foundation work is set up, the railroad will try to replace the two 210-foot spans in less than 32 hours.

The maintenance program also includes approximately 900 miles of track surfacing and/or undercutting work, the replacement of nearly 20 miles of rail, and close to 140,000 ties. It will also add parking bays at the Kansas City Automotive Facility. The funding includes money to further implement the Positive Train Control system in Kansas.

Over the past five years, BNSF has invested about $875 million to expand and maintain its network in Kansas.