State officials say Talmadge Bridge lane closures, cable replacements needed for long-term port success

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Georgia Department of Transportation crews will close single lanes on the Talmadge Bridge starting Thursday, September 10, ahead of a project to replace cables across the span.

They wrote that the project will also explore the feasibility of shortening the cables to “reprofile the existing bridge to obtain a higher vertical clearance and improve ship navigation within the channel.”

The original bridge was built in 1953. The current bridge was designed and built in the late 1980s and opened to traffic in 1991.

Joe Schulman, Georgia DOT program manager for the project, said the bridge remains safe during construction.

“While we are doing this work, the bridge is safe. This is really just planning for the future, making sure this bridge continues being safe and usable and also raising it up so that the port can use it for bigger projects and bigger ships coming through,” Schulman said.

According to a Georgia DOT report, the bridge’s current height allows cargo ships carrying between 14,000 and 17,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, or containers, to pass underneath. Raising the bridge would allow ships carrying up to 23,000 containers to pass through.

Georgia Ports Authority officials told WTOC the improvements would keep the Port of Savannah competitive with other ports across the country.

Schulman also said Georgia DOT worked with the Georgia Ports Authority to coordinate the project.

“It’s not just where you are replacing a bridge and have people going to and from; it is a massive area for business and commerce coming into Savannah, so we worked with them to make sure that everybody knows what everybody else is doing,” Schulman said.

The cable replacement project is part of the fourth work package of the US 17/SR 404 Spur Bridge Major Maintenance Project, which includes shortening the cables and raising the bridge. That work package is currently in the final design phase, with procurement expected to be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Traffic impact

Closures will occur in one direction, either northbound or southbound, at a time, and at least one lane will remain open at all times.

Georgia DOT encouraged drivers to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and consider alternate routes, such as I-95 or the Houlihan Bridge on State Route 25, when possible.