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This serves as notification from the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources of a request from CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) for a Coastal Marshlands Protection Act (CMPA) permit under Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) 12-5-280 et seq., to maintain and modify an existing railroad bridge over the Ogeechee River and construction of a bank stabilization project within their dedicated Right of Way (ROW) in Richmond Hill, Bryan County, Georgia. The project is less than 1/10 of an acre and is considered a minor alteration of coastal marshlands under O.C.G.A. 12-5-280 et. seq.
CSX Transportation operates major rail infrastructure in coastal Georgia for freight at regional ports and industrial corridors, as well as passengers traveling the Amtrak corridor. CSXT’s 15.6-mile East Route of the Savannah Subdivision runs from Savannah south to the Ogeechee River area before transitioning into the Nahunta Subdivision south of the Ogeechee River, which runs 129.2 miles south toward Dinsmore, Florida.
The existing 865ft. x 35ft. double track rail bridge near milepost (MP) A 505.5 consists of both timber and concrete ballast deck trestles and an open deck center lift span. A 15ft. wide gravel access road is in a 75ft. dedicated ROW adjacent to the rail tracks.
The proposed project includes the replacement of an approximately 149ft. x 31ft. (4,619sq.ft.) timber trestle section of the existing rail bridge that consists of sixteen (16) equal spans supported by timber bents on piles. Total impacts to CMPA jurisdiction from the existing bridge pilings are approximately 218sq.ft. (0.005 acre). The rail bridge at CSXT MPA 505.5 traverses the Ogeechee River at a place where the river is approximately 750ft. wide at Mean Low Water (MLW) and approximately 780ft. wide at Mean High Water (MHW). Current clearance under the bridge at MHW within the navigable channel at this location is approximately 4ft. Project area water depths range from approximately +2.5ft at MLW to approximately +20ft. in channel. The project extends approximately 227ft. into the Ogeechee River from MLW and includes work within the limits of the navigable channel under the bridge.
In-water work within the project area will utilize barges and boats on the Ogeechee River for removal of the existing trestle and construction as needed. Upland access for construction vehicles and materials will use an existing pervious maintenance road along the north side of the ROW and from a rail spur that splits from the main line just west of the project area and continues southwest. The rail spur access will potentially utilize a small existing gravel laydown area within CSXT ROW south of the project area at the Ford Avenue crossings in Richmond Hill, Georgia, approximately 1.3 miles to the west and southwest of the bridge.
To provide safe access to the proposed bridge maintenance project area, the existing pervious access road will be rehabilitated to provide a turnaround and track crossing to meet current safety standards.
Within the project area, approximately 204 treated timber bridge piles and abandoned utility poles will be removed using a vibratory hammer. Derelict guide piles and abandoned utility poles that represent a navigational safety risk will be cut off at the river bottom using a chain cutter to complete the bridge repair safely and allow safe boat and barge access. To remove and construct the replacement section of the rail bridge, a temporary work platform will be constructed south of, and parallel to, the existing bridge, approximately 6.84ft. above MHW. The 120ft. x 30ft. wide (3,600sq.ft.) temporary work platform will consist of timber decking on top of steel beams with steel piles and will extend from the existing rail embankment seaward to the approximate centerline of the section being replaced. The temporary work platform will consist of three (3) 40ft. x 30ft. sections, supported by four (4) bents with two (2) steel piles each, for a total of 8 steel piles (56.6sq.ft.) at a location that is approximately 95ft. seaward of MLW on the Ogeechee River. Six (6) of the 8 steel piles will be located within CMPA jurisdiction, with temporary impacts to CMPA jurisdiction totaling approximately 42.4sq.ft. (0.001 acre). The temporary work platform will be removed after completion of construction.
The replacement section of the bridge will be four (4) equally sized concrete spans supported by twenty-four (24) new concrete piles. The open deck center lift span will be permanently fixed and will be converted to a ballast deck. Eighteen (18) of the 24 concrete piles will be located within jurisdiction, with new impacts for the 18 concrete piles totaling approximately 50.4sq.ft. (0.0013 acre). Upon completion, clearance will be unchanged; clearance at MHW within the navigable channel at this location will be approximately 4ft.
Improvements are proposed to the existing stabilized embankment to provide a work vehicle turnaround and track crossing to meet current safety standards.
Within the project area approximately 340c.y. of compacted clean fill, 15c.y. of bedding stone and 44c.y. of riprap will be installed along the eastern limits of the ROW. Total impacts associated with improvements to the existing bank stabilization are approximately 3,133sq.ft. (0.0719 acre).
As proposed, permanent impacts for the in-water structures are approximately 50.4sq.ft. (0.0013 acre). Approximately 399c.y. of bank stabilization will result in an additional 3,133sq.ft. (0.0719) acre of impacts. Total impacts for the project area are approximately 3,183sq.ft. (0.0732 acre).
The upland component for the project consists of the existing CSX railroad. There are no improvements proposed to the upland component of the project.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate that the project is not contrary to the public interest and that no feasible alternative sites exist. Impacts to coastal marshlands must be minimal in size. In passing upon the application for permit, the Coastal Marshlands Protection Committee shall consider the public interest: (1) Whether or not unreasonably harmful obstruction to or alteration of the natural flow of navigational water within the affected area will arise as a result of the proposal; (2) Whether or not unreasonably harmful or increased erosion, shoaling of channels, or stagnant areas of water will be created; and (3) Whether or not the granting of a permit and the completion of the applicants proposal will unreasonably interfere with the conservation of fish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, clams, or other marine life, wildlife, or other resources, including but not limited to water and oxygen supply.
A detailed public notice with drawings has been distributed and is available by visiting the Department of Natural Resources website: CoastalGaDNR.org under “Public Notices.”
Please provide this office with substantive, site-specific comments as to why the proposed work should or should not proceed. Comments and questions concerning this proposed project should be submitted in writing and be submitted by the close of business on September 30, 2026, to Deb Barreiro via email at deb.barreiro@dnr.ga.gov or Department of Natural Resources, 185 Richard Davis Drive, Suite 104, Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324.
Click here to view Application.
Click here to view Description.
