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On the U.S. East Coast, the ports in Georgia will get a big rail and gate expansion project. The authorities approved additional investments of 55 mill. $.

»On the heels of reporting 32 % growth in containerized trade for October, an all-time record for Savannah, the Georgia Port[ds_preview]s Authority (GPA) approved rail and gate expansion projects that will significantly increase capacity at GPA‘s Garden City Terminal«, a statement says.

GPA, Georgia, Lynch
GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch (Photo: GPA)

Executive Director Griff Lynch reported to the Board that total tonnage for all terminals climbed by 25 %, from 2.6 million to 3.2 million tons, for an additional 661,290 tons of cargo. Breakbulk tonnage, primarily the movement of lumber, steel and autos, also increased by 14.7 %, signifying the growing strength of construction and manufacturing in the U.S. Southeast, he said.

Now the board approved expenditures of $42.27 million as part of GPA‘s $128 million Mason Mega Rail Terminal. »The project will not only expand the Port of Savannah‘s on-dock rail capacity by 100 %, but position Savannah to rapidly increase service to an arc of inland markets from Memphis to Chicago«, the GPA said. A total of $90.7 million has been allocated to the project thus far. Construction is slated to begin next month and be completed by the end of 2020.

In addition, the board also approved a $13.2 million project to expand the existing Gate 8 at Garden City Terminal. The addition is said to help the GPA seamlessly 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 % for a total of 54 truck lanes.

»The new pre-check lanes will reduce truck congestion and the Mega Rail Terminal will significantly reduce or eliminate rail crossings«, Lynch said.