Savannah to double on-dock rail

Written by Railway Age Staff

The Georgia Ports Authority approved rail and gate expansion projects that will significantly increase capacity at the Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal.

The announcement comes after the agency reported 32% growth in containerized trade for October, an all-time record for the port.

The authority’s board on Nov. 13 approved $42.27 million as part of GPA’s $128-million Mega Rail Terminal. The project will double Savannah’s on-dock rail capacity, and position it to rapidly increase service to an arc of inland markets from Memphis to Chicago. A total of $90.7 million has so far been allocated to the project.

Construction is slated to begin next month and be completed by the end of 2020.

“A strong Southeast U.S. economy, on-terminal expansion, and investment by private logistics firms throughout the region have resulted in phenomenal growth for Georgia,” said Executive Director Griff Lynch.

Total tonnage for all terminals climbed by 25%, from 2.6 million to 3.2 million tons in October, for a total 661,290 tons of cargo. Breakbulk tonnage, primarily lumber, steel and autos, increased by 14.7%, on growing construction and manufacturing in the Southeast, Lynch said.

The board also approved a $13.2-million project to expand Gate 8 at Garden City Terminal project by 12.5 % for a total of 54 truck lanes. 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 new pre-check lanes will reduce truck congestion and the Mega Rail Terminal will significantly reduce or eliminate rail crossings.

In Brunswick, Colonel’s Island Terminal handled 56,492 auto and machinery units in October, up 21% to 9,811 units.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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