ATLANTA — A CSX rail yard in Atlanta has become one of four “pop-up” inland ports to ease congestion at the Port of Savannah, Ga., but some nearby residents have mixed feelings. They’re concerned about a resulting increase in truck traffic, but also have felt the supply-chain issues the temporary facility is meant to address.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the port has signed a three-month lease on 15 acres at CSX’s Hulsey Yard in Atlanta and is moving 20-foot containers there, opening up space at the port. So far, about 350 containers are at the facility, which opened Dec. 7. Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch told the newspaper the pop-up facility is “not just moving [containers] out of the port, but moving them closer to retailers.” It also means less truck traffic on Interstate 16, which runs between Savannah and Macon, Ga., he said.
Some residents told the newspaper they have issues with the increase in noise, but others said they hope the short-term operation will help with supply chain problems. A CSX representative told the newspaper by email that the railroad “remains committed to working responsibly with our neighbors in the surrounding community as we continue to meet increasing customer demands.”
The other pop-up facilities are in Savannah; Stateboro, Ga., and near the existing inland Appalachian Regional Port in Crandall, Ga., near the Tennessee state line.
