Georgia Ports Authority OKs funds for rail, gate expansions

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) today approved rail and gate expansion projects aimed at increasing capacity at its Garden City Terminal in Savannah.

The board approved $42.27 million in expenditures as part of GPA's $128 million Mason Mega Rail Terminal. The project not only will expand the Port of Savannah's on-dock rail capacity by 100 percent, but position Savannah to rapidly increase service to an arc of inland markets from Memphis to Chicago, port officials said in a press release.

So far, $90.7 million has been allocated to the project. Construction is slated to begin next month and be completed by the end of 2020, they said.

Moreover, the board approved a $13.2 million project to expand the existing Gate 8 at Garden City Terminal. The addition will help the GPA absorb future growth and offer a better link to the Jimmy Deloach Parkway, which provides a direct truck route to Interstate 95. The project will expand the terminal's gate infrastructure by 12.5 percent for a total of 54 truck lanes.

"In addition to expanding capacity, we will also reduce the impact on our local community," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "The new pre-check lanes will reduce truck congestion and the Mega Rail Terminal will significantly reduce or eliminate rail crossings."

The board's actions follow last week's report that the GPA logged a 32 percent growth in containerized trade for October, which marked a record for Savannah, port officials said.

The Port of Savannah offers Class I service via CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway.