New freight corridor in Georgia to optimize Savannah port collection and distribution efficiency
The Georgia Department of Transportation announced that the $126 million Brampton Road Connector will open on Wednesday, July 16. This four-lane highway directly connects the Garden City Terminal of the Port of Savannah with Interstate 16, aiming to eliminate at-grade crossings and truck traffic through communities, reduce truck port entry times, and optimize inland transportation routes. This project is the final link in the Georgia DOT's approximately $600 million investment over nearly 12 years to build the Savannah freight loop highway, which has previously included projects such as the I-16/I-95 interchange improvements and the Jimmy Deloach Parkway. The port authority is also advancing other infrastructure, such as the Gainesville inland port opened in May, with an investment of $134 million and an annual handling capacity of 200,000 TEUs, as part of its ten-year, $5 billion investment plan.
A new freight corridor in Georgia aims to optimize cargo flow efficiency by connecting Interstate 16 with the Garden City Terminal at the Port of Savannah. According to a press release from the Georgia Ports Authority on July 7, the $126 million Brampton Road Connector will officially open this Wednesday (July 16), forming a four-lane highway directly to the terminal. Once the connector links with the interstate, it will eliminate at-grade crossings and reduce trucks traveling through local communities, enabling truckers to reach the port faster and have smoother routes to inland markets.
"Our trucking community will achieve faster port turnaround times and safer inland routes as a result, enhancing the overall speed of the Savannah supply chain," said Griff Lynch, CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority.
The Brampton Road Connector is the final piece of a series of projects by the Georgia Department of Transportation to create a freight loop highway in Savannah. The department said it has invested nearly $600 million in road projects over the past 12 years, including:
- A $295 million reconstruction of I-16 and I-95 to ensure safety and smooth movement for commuters and freight entering and exiting the interstates.
- A $129 million investment in Jimmy Deloach Parkway, a restricted truck-only route connecting the Garden City Terminal with I-16 and I-95.
- A $22.5 million investment in the Highway 307 overpass to carry vehicle traffic and support smooth truck and train movement at the Port of Savannah's Mason Mega Rail Terminal area.
- A $14.2 million upgrade to Grange Road to improve truck access between Jimmy Deloach Parkway and the Garden City Terminal.
The Georgia Ports Authority has other projects under construction. For example, in May of this year, the port opened a new inland terminal in Gainesville at a construction cost of $134 million, with an annual capacity of 200,000 TEUs. This inland terminal project is part of the port's ten-year infrastructure investment plan, totaling $5 billion.