Georgia Ports Authority has opened the Gainesville Inland Port in a grand opening ceremony attended by Governor Brian Kemp, Hall County dignitaries and Georgia Ports leadership.
The US$ 134 million facility connects Northeast Georgia’s growing manufacturing and logistics corridor directly to the Port of Savannah via Norfolk Southern rail service, with an annual capacity of 200,000 containers and convenient truck access to interstates 85 and 985.
Northeast Georgia represents a significant and expanding market, with a consumer base of 2 million, more than 300 manufacturers and 33% of the overall workforce concentrated in manufacturing, processing and logistics.
Since 2020, 78 new and expanding firms have added more than 4,800 jobs and US$ 2 billion in capital investment to Gainesville-Hall County.
The inland port is currently handling home and retail goods alongside manufacturing components for imports, with exports comprising farm and forest products and manufactured goods.
Customers can choose between rail for greater affordability and heavier loads or truck-only service for faster transit. Georgia Ports Authority expects to shift 26,000 containers to rail in the terminal’s first year, reducing truck traffic on Atlanta and Georgia highways and improving emissions.
The terminal links to the Port of Savannah’s 40 weekly vessel calls and will serve North Georgia and the Carolinas.
As part of the development, Georgia Ports funded US$ 4.8 million in Hall County road projects, eliminating an at-grade rail crossing, rerouting White Sulphur Road to ensure unimpeded emergency vehicle access and resurfacing Cagle Road to provide an improved alternative route for local residents.
Governor Kemp described the inland port as bringing the competitive advantage of Georgia’s port system directly to Northeast Georgia, easing highway congestion and connecting businesses to global markets.
CEO Griff Lynch characterised Gainesville as a high-growth market where the inland port will improve supply chain performance and long-term customer competitiveness.
The Gainesville facility is part of Georgia Ports’ US$ 5 billion ten-year infrastructure plan that also includes five additional container berths at Savannah, one RoRo berth at Brunswick and the US$ 2.3 billion Savannah Container Terminal scheduled to begin construction in 2028.
