Georgia Ports, DOT to study possible replacement of Savannah’s Talmadge Bridge (Atlanta: hotels, house)

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

Folks, Savannah will never have major transportation tunnels -- impossible in most southeastern coastal cities, and Savannah is a poster child for that. Too much rain, too much porous low-lying land. Yamacraw Bluff, the exception to Savannah's sandy soil, is too small and gives way quickly to wetlands. A tunnel is impossible as a replacement for the Talmadge Bridge, especially linking Savannah with world capitals like Hardeeville and Ridgeland. Big storms (and hurricanes) bring torrents of rain that swamp tunnels immediately. It's not going to happen, and the price tag is impossible. A span it will be -- hopefully with a pedestrian lane.

Thank you Debbie downer. Your word is now cemented and thus no tunnel will never ever in a million years be possible. Nope. Let’s just forget it was ever mentioned because Mason says it’s not gonna happen.

[GA Survivor]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

Thank you Debbie downer. Your word is now cemented and thus no tunnel will never ever in a million years be possible. Nope. Let’s just forget it was ever mentioned because Mason says it’s not gonna happen.

You know he's right though.😂😂

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by GA Survivor

You know he's right though.😂😂

That’s not my point.

[masonbauknight]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

That’s not my point.

Debbie's point: Dream BIG for Savannah -- it's going places. But also lay off the moonshine. Btw: Bridges happen to be beautiful. I love the Talmadge and the Ravenel.

[Rawlter2]

I would love if they had a pedestrian path. I run across the bridge somewhat regularly. And it is not really a great place to run. Highway speed cars on one side and low railing on the other. It’s not too unsafe, but uncomfortable for most. I think a lot of pedestrians/cyclists would use the new bridge even though there is little on the other side of the bridge.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

Debbie's point: Dream BIG for Savannah -- it's going places. But also lay off the moonshine. Btw: Bridges happen to be beautiful. I love the Talmadge and the Ravenel.

While I agree bridges can be beautiful, to say a tunnel is "impossible", I would politely disagree. If they can build the Port Miami Tunnel under their Main Channel (a similar distance as the width of Savannah River), they can build a tunnel in Savannah.

Of course it comes down to money, a new bridge will probably cost $400 million+, while a tunnel might cost $1-1.5 Billion. It's amazing what those engineers can do nowadays!

[masonbauknight]

Originally Posted by cjseliga

If they can build the Port Miami Tunnel under their Main Channel (a similar distance as the width of Savannah River), they can build a tunnel in Savannah.

Metro Miami: 6.2 million people (7th largest metro in the U.S. -- Atlanta ranks 9th)
Metro Savannah: 390,000 (136th -- between Gulfport-Biloxi and Fayetteville)

Originally Posted by cjseliga

Of course it comes down to money, a new bridge will probably cost $400 million+, while a tunnel might cost $1-1.5 Billion. It's amazing what those engineers can do nowadays!

The Miami dig connected potentially millions of people on both sides of the tunnel. The state of Florida also prioritizes Miami (always). Neither the $$$ nor "amazing engineering" will connect downtown Savannah to potential raccoons, possums, and gators in S.C. Lowcountry swamps. Finally, the engineering required beneath wetlands would be a feat indeed.

Originally Posted by cjseliga

To say a tunnel is "impossible"

Not just impossible -- completely-homer-impossible.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

Not just impossible -- completely-homer-impossible.

Not really, it is quite possible, why do you even care if you live in NYC?

[masonbauknight]

Originally Posted by cjseliga

why do you even care if you live in NYC?

I grew up in Savannah -- still visit family and follow all the local developments.

Originally Posted by cjseliga

Not really, it is quite possible

Nope, it's a fantasy.

[GA Survivor]

There will never be anything on the SC side except maybe a future expanded port. There is not much land to be developed, really we could abandon Hutchinson Island make it a resort accessible by ferry only with no motor vehicles and take the bridge down and save a ton of money for the state of Georgia.