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The Georgia General Assembly has allocated just over $6 million for special harbor improvements at the Port of Brunswick as part of the state’s midyear budget adjustment.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ recommended harbor improvement plan includes a bend widener, expansion of the turning basin (where ships are turned bow-downriver before docking at Colonel’s Island), and an expanded meeting area at St. Simons Sound.
The state allocation for the harbor is a pass-through to the Corps of Engineers to pay for the non-federal share of the project. The entire cost is expected to be $17.45 million, with a federal share of $11.35 million, or 65 percent.
“ For the past four years, we’ve seen an increasing number of vessel calls at the Port of Brunswick, and the car carriers serving Colonel’s Island have expanded in size to 7,000-vehicle capacity ,” said GPA President and CEO Griff Lynch . “ An improved channel will better accommodate growing business demand, and perfectly complements the terminal improvements we’re making in Brunswick .”
Lynch added that the next step is for GPA to sign a project partnership agreement with USACE laying out state and federal responsibilities related to the Brunswick Harbor improvements.