Contractors could begin repairs to four tunnels on the Coos Bay Rail Link by the end of the month.

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay awarded a contract to LRL Construction of Tillamook to do the work, but it has been delayed by paperwork requirements with the Federal Railroad Administration and getting equipment to the site.

The last of those hurdles should be overcome by the end of next week, said Martin Callery, director of communications and freight mobility for the port.

The contractor will begin with two tunnels in Lane County, Nos. 13 and 15. Workers also will upgrade tunnels 18 and 20, which are located near Gardiner and Tenmile Lakes, respectively.

The work includes replacing timber supports with steel and upgrading drainage systems within the tunnels. The port got $2.5 million to do the work from the federal stimulus package and it should be completed within six months.

The port also received a $20,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Transportation to clean sections of the track that have been covered by debris.

The line has been out of operation since September 2007, when the previous owner, Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad, declared tunnels a safety hazard.

The port purchased the line from CORP in March for a little more than $16 million. It still needs to make additional repairs to tracks, trestles and bridges before the line can reopen.

The stretch of track that’s east of the tunnels hasn’t had any traffic since the line changed hands. Moving commercial cars along the track could delay repairs, Callery said.

“It’s better to keep the line out of service to expedite the movement of work trains,” he said.