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Projects in Appling, Wayne counties vital to economic
development in region
7/22/09 Governor Sonny Perdue joined local officials today to
celebrate the completion of two transportation infrastructure
projects designed to improve the mobility of people and products
in the region.
Governor Perdue cut the ribbon on the Brunswick-to-Perry
Golden Isles Parkway in Appling County which links the port of
Brunswick to Middle Georgia with a continuous four-lane highway.
The Governor also dedicated a new railroad passing siding on
Norfolk-Southern's 183-mile track between
Macon
and Brunswick, the second big
enhancement of rail traffic to and from the Port of Brunswick.
“Georgia
continues to attract industry because business leaders
understand quick and efficient movement of goods is a key to
success,” said Governor Perdue. “These kinds of upgrades in our
transportation network will ensure safer travel for tourists,
better access for industries and improved connectivity in this
area of the state.”
Formed in 2006, the 341
Alliance is comprised of development authority
and chamber of commerce professionals from each of the eight
counties that front Hwy 341 between Perry and Brunswick. Specifically, Houston, Pulaski,
Dodge, Telfair, Jeff Davis, Appling, Wayne and Glynn counties
are involved. Acknowledging the importance of the corridor to
future economic development endeavors, the Alliance has been a strong advocate for
completion of the four lane project.
The full widening of U.S.
341/Golden
Isles Parkway
now provides travelers with a direct four-lane route from I-75
in Middle Georgia to I-95 along the Georgia
coast. Beginning north of Perry in Culloden and stretching to
the Port of Brunswick, the Parkway runs through the heart of many
small towns that are vital to the economies of middle and
southeast Georgia. The expansion of the Parkway
is expected to benefit future tourism development and industry
recruitment efforts in this part of Georgia.
The Southeast Georgia Joint Development Authority and Norfolk Southern worked together to build a passing siding
on the line that runs between Macon
and Brunswick serving the Port of Brunswick. The Southeast Georgia Joint
Development Authority was chartered in March 2005 and consists
of six counties: Brantley, Camden,
Charlton, Glynn, McIntosh, and
Wayne. The
current rail configuration was known to cause three hour delays
as one train had to wait on another to clear the tracks. This
system had the largest negative impact on unit trains with 60-75
cars carrying the same commodity and traveling nonstop.
The railroad passing siding on Norfolk-Southern's 183-mile
track between Macon and Brunswick is the
second big enhancement of rail traffic to and from the Port of Brunswick. The first came in September
2006 with the opening of Overton Junction, a 7,500-foot
connecting track between CSX Transportation and Norfolk-Southern
lines north of Brunswick. Previously,
trains from the railroads had to go all the way into Brunswick and switch cars
in two separate yards.
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