A Georgia congressman says he expects the U.S. House to take action this fall to eliminate a bureaucratic obstacle to deepening the shipping channel to the Port of Savannah.

Democratic Rep. John Barrow of Augusta visited the port Wednesday and said he expects the House Transportation Committee to take up a bill containing critical language for the Savannah harbor by early October.

Port officials have received the required permits to deepen 30 miles of the Savannah River to make room for larger cargo ships. But the $652 million project has been held up by a technicality because Congress authorized it with a spending cap of $459 million in 1999.

The Senate in May approved the higher cost as part of a larger water-projects bill that still must pass the House.

Tags: John Barrow, harbor deepening, Savannah port, Savannah Harbor deepening, harbor deepening project