SAVANNAH, Ga. — After decades of political wrangling and environmental roadblocks and nearly seven years of dredging muck from the river bottom, one of Georgia’s most anticipated economic development projects — the nearly $1 billion deepening of the Savannah River channel — finally is complete.

The board of the Georgia Ports Authority voted March 29 to spend $205 million to expand the Savannah facility, adding to $100 million authorized several months ago.