SAVANNAH, Ga. – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp joined customers, Hall County dignitaries and Georgia Ports (GPA) leaders to host the grand opening ceremony of the $134 million Gainesville Inland Port which will take an estimated 26,000 truck loads off of Georgia highways.
GPA described Kemp’s comments and the significance of the grand opening in a news release.
“Georgia’s ports are a major reason companies choose to invest and create jobs here, and the Gainesville Inland Port brings that advantage directly to Northeast Georgia,” said Gov. Kemp. “Connecting this region to the Port of Savannah with new supply chain options makes it easier for Georgia businesses to reach customers around the world and helps ease congestion on our highways.”
Northeast Georgia is home to a growing manufacturing and logistics corridor, with a consumer market of 2 million and more than 300 manufacturers.
GPA said since 2020, 78 new and expanding firms have added more than 4,800 jobs and $2 billion in capital investment to Gainesville-Hall County. The area’s largest employment segment, at 33 percent of overall workforce, is concentrated in manufacturing, processing and logistics.
“We view this as a high growth market where we can improve supply chain performance and make customers more competitive long-term. We’re bringing the Port of Savannah closer to Gainesville,” said Georgia Ports CEO Griff Lynch.
GPA said customers can now choose rail for greater affordability and for heavier loads, or truck-only for faster transit. The Georgia Ports Authority expects to shift 26,000 containers to rail in the terminal’s first year of operation, “improving emissions and reducing trucks on Atlanta and Georgia highways.”
Serving North Georgia and the Carolinas, the Gainesville Inland Port is presently handling a mix of home and retail goods as well as manufacturing components for imports. Exports consist of farm and forest products, as well as manufacturing.
“GPA’s new inland terminal is another important investment in Georgia’s statewide logistics network,” said Georgia Ports Chairman Alec Poitevint. “We appreciate Gov. Kemp, the General Assembly and Georgia DOT for their work keeping that network strong across the Peach State.”
“We are working with customers and the logistics community to create more business opportunities for them. The City of Gainesville and Hall County leadership have been excellent to work with and we’re confident in the future there,” added Georgia Ports President Kevin Price.
Georgia Ports stated it funded $4.8 million in Hall County Road projects, eliminating an at-grade rail crossing, rerouting White Sulphur Road and surfacing Cagle Road. The new White Sulphur route south of the inland terminal now ensures free access for emergency vehicles and avoids traffic disruption from trains. The resurfacing of Cagle Road also offers an improved alternative for residents.
Global connectivity, local storage, better flexibility for inventory
The Gainesville Inland Port links customers to the Port of Savannah’s 40 weekly vessel calls with Norfolk Southern rail service. The inland port has an annual capacity of 200,000 containers and offers convenient access for trucks to Interstates 85 and 985. On-terminal storage and truck gate access from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday gives inland port customers greater inventory flexibility. Grounded storage means customers can also reduce chassis fees compared to wheeled storage at their facilities.
Georgia Ports is in the midst of a $5 billion, 10-year plan that will see five container berths added in the Port of Savannah and one RoRo berth in the Port of Brunswick, which it called “the most expansion of any U.S. port” in its release.
The company recently announced it will start construction in 2028 on the 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) Savannah Container Terminal, a $2.3 billion, 350-acre facility with an on-dock rail terminal to handle the largest container ships when opened in the mid-2030s. The Port of Savannah will then achieve an overall total container capacity of 12 million TEU to serve the long-term growth needs of customers.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
