Gov. Deal To Address Georgia Port Officials In Savannah

SAVANNAH, Georgia (AP) - Gov. Nathan Deal is paying a visit to the Port of Savannah, where Georgia officials hope to see a massive expansion under way next year.

The governor was scheduled to speak to the board of the Georgia Ports Authority at its meeting Monday and take questions from reporters.

The Savannah port received big news last month when the federal government gave its final approval for a $652 million project to deepen the Savannah River shipping channel to make room for supersized cargo ships. Deal has called the expansion one of his top priorities for economic development. State officials hope to see construction begin next year.

Georgia taxpayers are expected to pay about 40 percent of the cost for deepening the Savannah harbor. The project faces court challenges in South Carolina.