ATLANTA—The Port of Savannah’s long-anticipated “last mile” project — the Jimmy Deloach (Parkway) Connector — moved closer to reality Friday as the Georgia Department of Transportation awarded a $73 million contract for its construction.

The Deloach Connector will serve truck traffic movements between the Port’s main gate and Interstate Highway 95 and will reduce current truck congestion on State Route 21.  As many as 10,000 trucks access the Port daily and that number is expected to increase substantially in years to come.

Ports Authority and State Transportation Board officials have said the new roadway is critical to improving Port access and growing the state’s logistics industry.

“This is as important as any project the Department has begun since I’ve been on the Transportation Board,” Chairman Rudy Bowen commented.  “The economic impact of this project will be huge for Savannah and huge for all of Georgia.”

“When complete, the Jimmy Deloach Connector will provide direct access from the Port of Savannah to I-95 and I-16; helping to create a transportation and logistics hub for the entire Southeast U.S.,” added Curtis Foltz, Ports Authority executive director. “This project could never have been awarded without the strong leadership of Governor Nathan Deal, the General Assembly and the DOT and GPA boards. This is another fine example of how Georgia’s leadership works together to make economic development possible.”

The project calls for the design and construction of a new limited access, median barrier-separated, four-lane highway between S.R. 307/Bourne Avenue and the Jimmy Deloach Parkway.  The 3.1-mile roadway will be built east of and roughly parallel to S.R. 21.  It is scheduled to be completed in December, 2015.  Construction will be by Archer Western Contractors, LTD, of Atlanta, for $72,772,000.

The Connector was one of 19 construction projects awarded at a total value of nearly $97 million.