Gary/Chicago International Airport

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Project Update: Moving Forward

Work continues on the runway extension project at and around the Gary Chicago International Airport. Dynamic compaction at the Roland property was completed on schedule, excavation work for the new box culvert is done and more than 500 feet of the culvert itself has been finished. The airport also completed a new entrance for Swift Transportation after determining that changes to the path of the new railroad line conflicted with the trucking company’s existing entrance.

“We have to raise the road six to eight feet right where the current entrance to their terminal is, so you would have trucks entering and exiting on a hill, which doesn’t work,” explains Interim Airport Director Steve Landry. The airport purchased the vacant Illiana Trucking property on the opposite side of the Swift terminal, demolished the vacant Illiana Trucking building and built the new Swift entrance there.

“Swift has been a model of cooperation,” Landry says, “especially considering that we didn’t meet with them until the very end of 2010 because we didn’t think the project would have any impact on their property. When we did go to them, their response was, what can we do to help?”

With the culvert nearing completion, sewer and drainage work to divert stormwater runoff into the culvert is underway. NIPSCO is also working in the area relocating power lines and an electrical pedestal, and agreements have been reached with the Majestic Star casino and Indiana American Water casino to relocate water and sewer lines in six locations that conflict with the realignment of the CN tracks. The airport has awarded a contract for grading work along the length of the realignment, except for the portion where culvert work is ongoing.

Clearing and grubbing work for the runway extension itself has begun. This project required a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers since the area is classified as a wetland.

06/07/2012

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