PORT WENTWORTH, GEORGIA — The City of Port Wentworth is rolling out a public information campaign to prepare truck drivers, residents, and businesses for a downtown semi-truck ban on Coastal Highway that takes full effect July 1, 2026.
The ban will apply to the downtown portion of Coastal Highway, restricting semi-truck traffic from the corridor between Grange Road and Bonnybridge Road. City leaders say the effort is aimed at improving safety, reducing heavy truck congestion, and supporting downtown revitalization by making the corridor more walkable and business-friendly.
How It Came About
The ban became possible in April 2025 when the Georgia Department of Transportation approved Port Wentworth’s request to assume local jurisdiction over that stretch of State Route 25 through downtown. The move gave the city the authority to redirect through-truck traffic away from the city center — a key element of the 2024 Downtown Vision and Strategy Plan approved by residents and the City Council.
“Thank you for sharing the City of Port Wentworth’s downtown vision plan for a pedestrian friendly commercial corridor,” said GDOT Chief Engineer Meg B. Pirkle at the time. “GDOT appreciates the City of Port Wentworth’s partnership, and we look forward to working with you to help advance the City’s vision.”
The Timeline
The city is taking a phased approach to enforcement. From May 1 through May 30, the focus is on public education through flyer distribution, text alerts, signage installation, and community outreach. The city also plans to move forward with proposed ordinance and speed limit changes and may host public town hall meetings.
From June 1 through June 30, outreach continues and a formal warning period begins for truck traffic that has not transitioned to alternate routes. The city will coordinate with the Georgia Ports Authority, Jasper County, South Carolina, Garden City, and regional transportation groups to improve route awareness and directional signage on key approaches to downtown.
Full enforcement begins July 1.
What City Manager Steve Davis Said
“Reducing semi-truck traffic through this corridor has been a priority for our community. We recognize this shift will require coordination with our trucking and logistics partners, which is why we are taking a thoughtful, phased approach focused on communication and collaboration,” said City Manager Steve Davis.
Residents, business owners, and drivers are encouraged to follow posted signage and stay updated through the city’s website.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
