PORT ALLEN – Railway improvement projects and construction will begin later this month in Port Allen, New Roads and several other Louisiana cities due to a $14 million investment from a Missouri transportation company.

The Kansas City Southern Railway Company has invested $14.3 million for rail, cross tie and crossing improvements planned between Port Allen and Simmesport, La. along with a rail project planned in Norco, La.

The work is expected to begin on Nov. 15 and continue through late December. Cities where work will take place include Norco, Port Allen, Glynn, New Roads, Morganza, Batchelor Innis, Lettsworth and Simmesport.

The project work will include the replacement of 4.5 miles of rail, 52,000 cross ties and improvements to more than 100 road crossings.

The Kansas City Southern Railway Company is a subsidiary of Kansas City Southern, a transportation holding company that has railroad investments in the U.S., Mexico and Panama.