Georgia inland port opening in May expected to ‘significantly’ reduce truck traffic in Atlanta

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) will open a new inland port in Gainesville next month in a move that is expected to “reduce trucks on Georgia’s highways and in the Atlanta region.”

GPA will open a new $134 million inland port with a 104-acre terminal in Gainesville, Georgia, on May 4, 2026.

Port officials say that the Gainesville facility, serviced by Norfolk Southern, will provide direct access to Savannah’s global ocean carrier network to give local manufacturers a cost-effective option to reach global markets.

“Direct rail with five day a week service between Northeast Georgia and Savannah gives shippers an alternative to a 600-mile roundtrip truck route that will reduce trucks on Georgia’s highways and in the Atlanta region,” GPA said in a news release.

“Our new inland rail facility in Gainesville, Georgia, will significantly offset truck traffic congestion in Atlanta and improve air quality by replacing an estimated 26,000 truck roundtrips in the first year alone.  We’re already seeing positive customer engagement and Norfolk Southern will bring an excellent level of service working together with GPA,” said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch at the March 24 GPA Board meeting.

At full buildout, the Gainesville Inland Port is expected to have a capacity of 200,000 containers per year.

Port officials say the Gainesville Inland Port will “strengthen Northeast Georgia’s attractiveness and business competitiveness.”