Local Headlines & Updates:
- Aimed to improve safety, reduce heavy truck congestion, and support downtown revitalization to make the Coastal Highway corridor more walkable and business-friendly.
- April 2025: Georgia Department of Transportation approved Port Wentworth assuming local jurisdiction of downtown State Route 25, enabling truck redirection.
- May outreach: education, flyers, text alerts, signage, ordinance and speed limit changes; June warning period and coordination with Georgia Ports Authority and regional partners.
PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. (WTOC) – The City of Port Wentworth is launching a public information campaign to prepare residents, businesses and drivers for a downtown semi-truck ban along Coastal Highway that will be fully enforced beginning July 1, 2026.
City leaders say the effort is part of a broader push to improve safety, reduce heavy truck congestion and support downtown revitalization by making the corridor more walkable and business-friendly.
The ban will apply to the downtown portion of Coastal Highway, with outreach and education taking place through May and June as truck drivers transition to designated alternate routes.
In April of 2025, the Georgia Department of Transportation approved Port Wentworth’s request to assume local jurisdiction over the downtown portion of State Route 25 from Grange Road to Bonnybridge Road, a move the city says is key to redirecting through-truck traffic away from the city center.
Timeline for the campaign and enforcement
- May 1–May 30: The city will focus on public education, flyer distribution, text alerts, signage installation and community outreach to alert drivers about the upcoming changes. The city also plans to move forward with proposed ordinance and speed limit changes and may host public town hall meetings.
- June 1–June 30: Outreach continues, and the city will begin a formal warning period for truck traffic that has not transitioned to alternate routes. Officials say they will also coordinate with the Georgia Ports Authority and regional partners, including Jasper County and South Carolina, Garden City, and transportation groups, to improve route awareness and directional signage on key approaches to downtown.
- Starting July 1: Full enforcement begins, restricting semi-truck traffic from the downtown corridor.
City Manager Steve Davis said this is an important step in further improving safety and quality of life in downtown Port Wenworth.
Officials are encouraging residents, business owners and drivers to follow posted signage and stay updated through the city’s website.
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