The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) has selected Kiewit Infrastructure South as the general contractor for a towering suspension bridge project in Savannah, US.  

The $189m project aims to raise the Eugene Talmadge Memorial Bridge to accommodate larger cargo ships for the Port of Savannah, reported Associated Press.

The bridge, constructed in 1991, connects the states of Georgia and South Carolina over the Savannah River.  

It currently has 185ft of clearance, which is said to be too low to accommodate future classes of larger ships. 

According to the Georgia DOT, the bridge’s maintenance and construction works are expected to commence in the first quarter of 2025.  

The Georgia DOT's interim solution involves replacing and shortening the bridge's support cables to raise its centre span by up to 20ft. 

Most of the bridge's expansion work is expected to be completed without disrupting traffic, the authority told the publication.  

Georgia DOT spokesperson Kyle Collins stated that Kiewit Infrastructure South was granted $6.5m for preconstruction services. 

Final construction costs are to be determined upon completion of the design phase.

The Georgia DOT is also exploring long-term solutions, including the possibility of constructing a taller bridge or a tunnel to allow vehicles to pass under the river.  

In May last year, the Georgia DOT awarded a $79m contract to upgrade a section of the I-85 motorway to Ferrovial’s construction subsidiary.