Gary/Chicago International Airport on Wednesday announced an accelerated construction schedule to a key component of its cargo services expansion.
The receipt of a previously allocated $9.82 million state grant allows the airport to simultaneously build eight wide-bodied aircraft parking positions on a new cargo logistics apron. The apron is part of $24 million in infrastructure improvements that the airport began last fall.
“We are very pleased to be able to construct all of our planned plane parking in one fell swoop versus a more sequential process over a period of years, given how quickly our cargo sector continues to grow,” airport Executive Director Dan Vicari said in a news release.
Construction is now scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, the airport said, and the simultaneous construction timeline is expected to provide about $8.5 million in overall Phase 1 cost savings. Additional aspects of the Phase 1 cargo services expansion include a fuel pipeline and a new sewer system.
In March the airport announced a $16.5 million bond sale to help fund a host of capital improvement projects, including the construction of new hangars, renovations to the airport terminal and an expanded cargo and logistics center. A month later the airport acquired five additional acres, boosting its allotment toward planned cargo operations to 60 acres, Inside INdiana Business reported.
Since 2015 the airport has undergone a runway expansion and other improvements to accommodate larger aircraft as it boosts its cargo service offerings. The airport now ranks third in the state for freight volume.