Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) recently secured more than $11.3 million in federal funding for the Freight Mobility, Military and Workforce Readiness Corridor Project on DeRenne Avenue in Savannah, Georgia.
How will the funding help the project? The funding will support right-of-way acquisition for the project, which will improve a key transportation corridor serving Hunter Army Airfield, Memorial Health University Medical Center, Candler Hospital, and freight moving to and from the Port of Savannah.
The funding was provided by the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant program and will help relieve chronic congestion, improve military operational readiness, support economic growth, and boost public safety.
This funding was made available by the Infrastructure and Jobs Act, commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, enacted in 2021. Both Sens. Warnock and Ossoff supported the bill.
What key figures had to say:
- Sen. Raphael Warnock: “To ensure that Memorial Health University Medical Center and Candler Hospital are accessible during emergencies and Hunter Army Airfield can stay connected to strategic partners across the country, we need strong investments to modernize Savannah’s vital roadway infrastructure. Upgrades to this central corridor will promote economic opportunity, improve safety, and reduce traffic for Georgians across Savannah.”
- Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson II: “The City of Savannah remains committed to improving DeRenne Avenue, and we’re excited about the continued momentum with the support of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah Technical College, Memorial Health University Medical Center (MHUMC), the Georgia Motor Trucking Association, Senator Warnock, and Senator Ossoff.”
Further Context: This funding will also help the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the City of Savannah complete a key component of Project DeRenne, a major four-part infrastructure initiative aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving transportation and neighborhood connectivity along the DeRenne Avenue corridor.
Specifically, the funding will support a new connection between I-516 and White Bluff Road and widen Hampstead Avenue to improve pedestrian and bicycle access.
