Multiple projects are moving forward at Gary/Chicago International Airport in hopes of luring back passenger service and expanding cargo operations. The airfield is located at 6001 Airport Road on the northwest edge of the city. Plans for its expansion come as Gary continues to push for the revitalization of the once industrial city.
Site plan of Gary cargo facility expansion
Built in 1954, the small double runway airport has been working towards cementing itself as Chicago’s third airport since then. With efforts also proceeding to construct a new cargo airport in Peotone, a countdown has begun to bring Gary up to date before crucial service is lost. The small airport has not had passenger service since 2013.
View of terminal runway construction via Superior Construction
Runway Rehabilitation and Expansion
One of the airport’s largest drawbacks were its runway length, efforts to change this span back over two decades as the city secured funds to move the railroad tracks that were impeding this in 2006. Eventually the main runway was extended over 1,800 feet in 2015 and was recently fully rehabilitated.
View of terminal runway construction via Superior Construction
Efforts are now looking into extending the existing cross runway to add another option during inclement weather. This will require the relocation of the airport’s main access road, however the city has already entered a memorandum of understanding with the airport as the team begins the planning stage of this project.
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Current view of Gary terminal via NWI Times
Passenger Terminal Upgrades
With the last regularly scheduled flight having been in 2013, the terminal has been on the back burner of maintenance projects since then. This eventually led to the removal of its two jet bridges as UPS began using the building and apron for their cargo operations. The $5 million project will bring the building up to date and compatible with modern TSA standards.
Previous view of Gary terminal and tower via Chicago Tribune
Work will include everything from doors, flooring, painting, drywall, HVAC, replacing the large glass curtain wall overlooking the runway, improvements to the old baggage systems, and two new jet bridges to replace those that were removed. A majority of the work is expected to be completed by the end of this year but extend into next.
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Current view of tower via NWI Times
New Control Tower
Still surviving from the 1970’s, the airport’s current control tower was threatened to be closed in 2013 as TSA cut costs. Its location on the far southeast side of the airfield has also proven difficult as it is hard for controllers to observe the now extended runway. Now the FAA has approved the location of a new tower set to rise 95-feet tall, around 50-feet taller than the current.
With it will come all new equipment including new communication tools and advanced radar systems, replacing the nearly obsolete equipment in the current tower. Design and engineering can now begin as the airport hopes to receive $16 million in federal funding. Construction should begin in the fall of 2025 and be completed summer 2026.
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Site plan of Gary cargo facility expansion
New Infrastructure and Cargo Ramp
Currently the airport only handles cargo but only has two wide-body aircraft parking spaces. The final goal is to expand that to 18 wide body aircraft at a time. The first phase of this recently broke ground and will include a new jet-fuel pipeline to serve new large tanks, upgrade to the sanitary sewer, build a new apron that can hold eight aircraft, and a new de-icing facility.
Site plan of Gary cargo facility expansion
This will come at a cost of $24 million, funded through multiple years of federal funds, FAA, and the State of Indiana according to AviationPros. The new cargo complex will be located on the north side of the airfield. The airport is also building a 47,000 square-foot hangar for general use and one for Wingtip Aviation, both should be completed next year.
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All of the project’s are aimed at attracting additional cargo services due to their proximity to downtown Chicago, as well as the aforementioned passenger services which airport authorities hope to have soon.
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Location has always been there but the infrastructure has not. This should help, at least with cargo operations. The freight train tracks and ready access to interstate are major draws for freight operations. Plus the congestion at O’Hare and even now rockford to an extent make cargo operators give Gary a second look. Passenger service though remains a distant future. Northwest Indiana residents would be the only true users of such an airport and most of them bleed to midway as is. Then the procurement of an airline would need to happen. The only airlines that might be interested are allegiant or breeze. Everyone other airline is currently utilizing O’Hare or Midway and won’t cannibalize their current services to go there. A future AEAS award might help.
Nice writeup. I agree with ECM’s comment that while becoming an effective cargo airport is a sensible goal for Gary, passenger service isn’t so much. For one thing driving access to the airport isn’t nearly as easy as you’d think given its location right next to the Indiana Toll Road. And even if the NICTD (South Shore Railroad) did one day create a spur and station serving the airport, that train line’s frequency of service isn’t nearly enough to be really useful as a way to get people to/from an airport.
Also a small correction on the above article. “6001 Airport Road on the northeast edge of the neighboring city” is not quite right. The cargo expansion parcel is within the City of Gary (not the neighboring city of East Chicago), and is near the northwest corner of Gary not northeast.
So long as this doesn’t add more trucks to the toll road, this will be excellent.
I have flown out of the Gary Airport 3 times in the past while living in Munster, IN and it was fabulous every time. Reminded me of the airports in the ‘70s when I first started flying: very user friendly. Always hoping for the return of service there.
The airport needs a name upgrade also. It should be called GARIT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. A combination of GARY and IT being the 3rd airport of Chicago.