{"id":653,"date":"2017-11-13T08:42:49","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T13:42:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awlcorp.com\/?p=653"},"modified":"2017-11-13T08:42:49","modified_gmt":"2017-11-13T13:42:49","slug":"gpa-approves-projects-expand-rail-gate-capacity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awlcorp.com\/?p=653","title":{"rendered":"GPA APPROVES PROJECTS TO EXPAND RAIL, GATE CAPACITY"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"GPA<\/div>\n

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CONTAINER, BREAKBULK AND AUTO VOLUMES CLIMB<\/h2>\n

When complete, GPA’s Mason Mega Rail Terminal will double rail lift capacity to 1 million containers per year, reach new markets and reduce impact on the local community.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(Georgia Ports Authority \/ Stephen B. Morton)<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n

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Savannah, Ga. \u2013 Nov. 13, 2017 \u2013\u00a0<\/b>On the heels of reporting 32 percent growth in containerized trade for October, an all-time record for Savannah, the Georgia Ports Authority approved rail and gate expansion projects that will significantly increase capacity at GPA\u2019s Garden City Terminal \u2013 the single largest container terminal in all of North America.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cA strong Southeast U.S. economy, on-terminal expansion, and investment by private logistics firms throughout the region have resulted in phenomenal growth for Georgia,\u201d said Executive Director Griff Lynch. \u201cBut these record volumes could not have been possible without the tireless dedication of the men and women responsible for moving this cargo. From the GPA and the International Longshoreman Association, to the stevedores and logistics community, thank you for a job well done.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to record container volumes, Lynch reported to the Board that total tonnage for all terminals climbed by 25 percent, 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 percent, signifying the growing strength of construction and manufacturing in the U.S. Southeast, he said.<\/p>\n

On Monday, the board approved expenditures of $42.27 million as part of GPA\u2019s $128 million Mason Mega Rail Terminal. The project will not only expand the Port of Savannah\u2019s on-dock rail capacity by 100 percent, but\u00a0position Savannah to rapidly increase service to an arc of inland markets from Memphis to Chicago. 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes Georgia and the Georgia Ports Authority a continuing success story is the relentless effort to stay one step ahead of the curve and the competition,\u201d said Jimmy Allgood, GPA board chairman. \u201cThe projects approved today will do exactly that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The board also approved a\u00a0$13.2 million project to expand the existing Gate 8 at Garden City Terminal. The addition will 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\u2019s gate infrastructure by 12.5 percent for a total of 54 truck lanes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to expanding capacity, we will also reduce the impact on our local community,\u201d Lynch said. \u201cThe new pre-check lanes will reduce truck congestion and the Mega Rail Terminal will significantly reduce or eliminate rail crossings.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Brunswick, Lynch said, Colonel\u2019s Island Terminal handled 56,492 auto and machinery units last month, for growth of 21 percent or 9,811 units.<\/p>\n

Find print-quality images of port operations\u00a0<\/i>here<\/i><\/a>. Georgia\u2019s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 370,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $20.4 billion in income, $84.1 billion in revenue and $2.3 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia\u2019s economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2017.<\/i>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or\u00a0<\/b>rmorris@gaports.com<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

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