Already the second-busiest port on the Atlantic coast, Georgia’s Port of Savannah has big expansion plans.

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Port of Savannah has added another month to its streak of record cargo volumes amid a surge that has forced U.S. seaports to scramble to meet demand.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will allow the Georgia Port Authority to build storage for shipping containers at sites near the Port of Savannah using $8 million in unspent federal grants, part of a new plan to relieve supply chain bottlenecks at U.S. ports.

The board of the Georgia Ports Authority voted March 29 to spend $205 million to expand the Savannah facility, adding to $100 million authorized several months ago.

The Port of Savannah, the second busiest on the East Coast, is closing operations on Saturdays to truck drivers, effective immediately, as business slows due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Georgia Ports Authority introduced dual rail service from the Port of Savannah to Chicago, with cargo reaching the Midwestern city in less than three days.

July was a record month for intermodal cargo at the Port of Savannah, achieving 10.5% growth during the month, the Georgia Ports Authority announced.

Crane Worldwide Logistics opened a facility in Savannah, Ga., to expand its footprint on the East Coast.

Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch plans to double the container capacity of the Garden City Terminal and possibly replace the Talmadge Memorial Bridge that spans the Savannah River.

A development group announced plans March 1 for a sprawling new industrial park near Savannah, Ga., where cargo traffic through the nation’s fastest growing container port has left warehousing space at a premium.