The Gary/Chicago International Airport planted its flag in the cargo business Tuesday atop a $24 million, 55-acre concrete cargo campus on the airport’s northwest side.
Mayor Eddie Melton credited strong federal, state and local partnerships for the success of the cargo campus project. The federal government provided $13 million and Indiana added $10 million to Gary’s $1 million for the project.
“Gary is worth fighting for,” said U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, who guided the funding through Congress. Mrvan stressed Gary’s strategic advantages including three interstate highways, a deep water port, and six railroads.
The airport already ranks third in freight volume in Indiana, officials said.
Evidence points to Gary holding that rank or increasing it. Last year, FedEx pledged to build a $60 million 300,000 square-foot distribution center just north of the airport on Buffington Harbor Drive. It’s expected to open in 2027 and create 600 jobs.
The airport is already home to UPS, which launched operations at the airport in 2020.
“So now, it’s just about telling our story, and making sure the market knows the potential that we have here,” said Melton after the ribbon cutting.
“And just kind of closing and locking deals in.”
The new cargo campus has eight lanes ready for the wide-body planes cargo shippers use.
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Airport executive director Dan Vicari said the project represented years of planning, engineering, construction and collaboration.
He said the cargo expansion strengthens the airport’s ability to serve businesses throughout Northwest Indiana and the greater Chicago area.
Before the designated cargo campus, UPS planes were unloaded near the passenger terminal. “They’ll have more elbow room now,” Vicari said.
Airport authority chairman Tom Collins Jr. said the airport’s strides did not happen in isolation.
“Rather, they’re the result of a deliberate strategy to strengthen our infrastructure, expand our capabilities and position this airport for long-term success,” he said.
He pointed to the airport’s investments since 2015, including a new extended nearly 9,000-foot runway, the opening of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in 2018, and the acquisition of the Griffith-Merrillville Airport in 2023.
It’s also beginning construction of a new $18.3 million air traffic control tower that’s 50 feet taller than the existing tower. It’s expected to be completed next year.
“The completion of this state-of-the-art cargo campus elevates Gary’s role as a premier logistics hub in the Midwest,” said Melton. “We are building the critical infrastructure necessary to attract world-class operations and drive sustained momentum for the City of Gary.”
In addition to the cargo campus ribbon cutting, officials snipped a ribbon on the airport’s new sanitary sewer improvement project followed by a groundbreaking to launch a new storm and sanitary sewer rehabilitation project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“By completing these sewer upgrades and launching the next phase of storm rehabilitation, we are ensuring the people of Gary, and the Gary/Chicago International Airport, have the physical foundation to expand the cargo footprint and drive regional growth. Together, with our local partners, we are building infrastructure that is truly built to last,” said Lt. Col. David Dawes, district commander Army Corps of Engineers for the Chicago area.
Officials said the event marked completion of the first environmental infrastructure phase as authorized by federal law.
The project includes a grinder pump station north of Chicago Avenue, 2,200 linear feet of 8-inch gravity sanitary sewer, 400 linear feet of 1.5-inch sanitary force main connecting directly
The scope of the rehabilitation phase that’s just beginning includes comprehensive sewer line cleaning and televising, targeted replacement of existing 15-inch sewer lines and extensive sewer lining, rehabilitation of manholes, storm structures, and paving work.
There will also be critical pump replacements and winter-ready de-icing system upgrades at two existing lift stations.
The Army Corps of Engineers awarded the $1.56 million project to Integrated Environmental Solutions Inc. of Gary.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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By the numbers
200 jobs created
2,400 feet of sanitary sewer installed
110,000 cubic yards of earth moved
26,000 tons of asphalt
44,000 tons of crushed lime aggregate
6,000 yards of recycled crushed concrete
20 acres of 15-inch deep concrete
5,000 linear feet of fencing