A new port project that will link Gainesville to the docks of Savannah is getting a big grant from the federal government.
A 104-acre inland port is planned for Gainesville and will provide a direct rail route to the Port of Savannah. According to the website gaports.com, the Norfolk Southern rail terminal will open with 9,000 feet of working track, expanding to 18,000 feet at full build-out.
US Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock announced a 2-million dollar grant which will bring much-needed road and infrastructure improvements to open the facility in Hall County, named the Northeast Georgia Inland Port.
The new rail line is normally a 300-mile trip by truck. With a top capacity of 150,000 container lifts per year, the facility will offset 600 roundtrip highway miles for every container moved by rail.
Georgia already has two similar inland rail ports in Murray and Crisp counties.
