The east end of the Gary/Chicago International Airport’s main runway will be closed for 36 hours starting on Aug. 18.
The closure will begin at 6 p.m., according to AECOM project manager John Lukas, and contractors Midwest Electrical and Rieth-Riley Construction will use the time to remove the existing markings, painting, striping, and changing out old lighting. Lukas said it’s similar to the work done to the west end of the runway between June 24-26 prior to the conclusion of the $174 million runway expansion.
Lukas told the airport authority board at its Monday meeting that the airport is also trying to schedule a flight check with the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport is in the process of swapping out an older instrumentation system on Runway 12/30, and inspectors must sign off on the change before it goes into effect. Interim airport director Dan VIcari said the project will be complete by the end of 2015.
Lukas said paving is complete on the road that encircles the airport facility, which he said is a real advantage to airport operations, maintenance and security. Additional work going on at the airport include installing an additional pipe in a ditch near the Boeing Hangar over the next two weeks and installing fencing at the east end of the runway, near the Grand Calumet River, to limit wildlife from interfering with runway operations.
There were no contract modification on Monday’s agenda, but Lukas said there will likely be some at the next board meeting to wrap up various contracts.
The board did approve a $1.01 million transfer from the construction account to pay for a revenue bond. The amount covered several invoices submitted by various vendors related to the runway extension.