Georgia governor endorses port highway

Georgia governor endorses port highway    Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal Tuesday endorsed building an estimated $140 million highway, the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway Connector, to improve truck access to and from the Port of Savannah.
   The project will result in a 3.1-mile, four-lane extension of the parkway built to the east of its interchange with Interstate 95. It will extend south directly to Bourne Avenue near the port's gate and become the main truck route between the port and I-95, relieving traffic and enhancing safety on crowded State Route 21 in the Port Wentworth area.
   The Georgia General Assembly last year authorized selling up to $100 million in general obligation bonds to fund the project and the state transportation board last month approved a proposal to include $91 million in financing for the road in a planned June general obligation bond sale.
   Georgia DOT tentatively plans to award a design-build contract for the project late this year. Right-of-way acquisition would then begin, with construction starting in 2013 and the roadway completed and opened in 2015. State motor fuel tax revenues would be used to retire the bond debt.