Construction has officially begun on the Gary/Chicago International Airport's new air traffic control tower.
Officials gathered Sept. 18 to mark the start of the $18.3 million project that will replace the airport's 54-year-old tower. The new tower will be about 50 feet taller than the current one, which is 45 feet.
“Today’s groundbreaking ceremony represents the culmination of years of planning, collaboration and investment in the future of the Gary/Chicago International Airport,” said Dan Vicari, executive eirector of GCIA, in a press releases. “The new air traffic control tower will provide the modern infrastructure needed to support future aviation growth, enhance safety and operational efficiency and ensure GCIA remains a key economic engine for Northwest Indiana and the Chicago region for decades to come.”
About 120 people will be needed to build the tower in about 24,000 construction hours. Completion of the project is scheduled for late 2027.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded an $8.3 million grant through its Airport Improvement Program in August. The grant was the last piece in the $18.3 million funding puzzle for the project. A $10 million Federal Aviation Administration grant was awarded in May.
The Gary/Chicago International Airport has been planning a new air traffic control tower since 2022. The FAA approved a siting study and granted $1.7 million for design and engineering in 2024.
Expansion at the airport began in 2015 when the main runway was expanded to almost 9,000 feet. In 2018, the airport opened a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, which allowed international fliers to use the airport without seeking customs elsewhere. The FAA approved a master plan for the airport in 2022, and gave the green light to a new traffic control tower that September.
