Sec. Foxx visits Brampton Road Connector Project to highlight need for infrastructure investment

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx joined Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) and local officials Feb. 17 at the proposed Brampton Road Connector in Georgia and pointed to Savannah's efforts to move freight faster and more efficiently as an example of communities' needs nationwide.

 

Foxx’s visit is part of a four-day, five state bus tour, The GROW AMERICA Express, highlighting the importance of investing in America’s infrastructure and to encourage Congress to act on a long-term transportation bill.

“We know that the amount of freight moving around this country will increase by 45 percent by 2040 and you can bet that some of that growth will happen right here in Savannah,” said Secretary Foxx. “The people of Savannah have waited far too long to get this last mile built and we’ve all waited too long for congress to pass a meaningful long-term funding bill. The Brampton Road Connector is one must-do project we need to complete if we want to be competitive globally in the future.”

When completed, the 1.1-mile-long Brampton Road Connector, estimated to cost $26 million, will consist of a new road beginning northwest of SR 25/I-516 interchange at the Burnsed Boulevard intersection and continue northeast to Brampton Road, which will be widened to accommodate two left turn lanes into the Georgia Ports Authority’s Container Gate 3. Along with making traffic signal improvements, workers will relocate the existing Norfolk Southern track at Burnsed Boulevard to a new overpass location to eliminate at-grade rail crossings on the new roadway. Construction could be ready to begin as soon as 2016, but funds have not yet been identified.

“Better roads lead to better shipping by air and sea,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau. “Savannah deserves good transportation and good trade. By investing in America, we can build a better economic future here in Georgia and elsewhere.”

 

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