District 6 Alderman Tony Thomas has requested research into the feasibility of renaming the half-mile portion of Rio Road to Heroes Way

Rio Road is a two-lane facility that runs north/south between Abercorn Street and Mohawk Street. At the mid-point, Rio Road intersects with Shawnee Street on the east and the southern gate of Hunter Army Airfield on the west. Inside the installation, the north/south road from the gate is also named Rio Road.

Traffic Engineering identified 24 parcels directly adjacent to Rio Road between Abercorn and Mohawk Streets. Of the total parcels, three have Rio Road addresses: two are vacant properties near Mohawk Street; the third is an easement belonging to BellSouth. The property on which the new Veteran’s Administration Clinic was built has a Shawnee Street address.

Letters explaining the proposal and requesting input were sent to all 24 property owners. Fifteen responses were received, including replies from the owners with parcels addressed to Rio Road and from Hunter Army Airfield. All respondents favor the name change.

The Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission has verified that no other streets or street segments are named Heroes Way.

Approval