Plans are moving forward for improvements at the Gary/Chicago International Airport that officials hope will perk up interest from a commercial airliner.
After a public hearing that drew no comments on Wednesday, the airport authority approved an ordinance calling for the issuance of two revenue bonds totaling about $35 million. Part of the funding is targeted for renovation work at the airport’s passenger terminal.
“The sooner we can get it done, the sooner we can get an airline providing commercial service,” Dan Vicari, the airport’s executive director, told the board.
The authority awarded a $420,195 contract to Midwestern Electric, of East Chicago, for upgrades inside the terminal.
After the meeting, Vicari said officials were having conversations with commercial airliners while doing the updates on walls, flooring, ticket areas, and lighting to make the terminal more attractive. He said Transportation Security Administration rules call for new screening equipment that needs additional electrical work. Two passenger bridges that escort passengers from their plane into the terminal in inclement weather are also being constructed.
Vicari said most of the terminal has already been gutted and construction work will continue into next year.
Financial consultant Steve Dalton said before the first bond sale goes to market, the city council will be asked to back the bond issue with property tax funding to secure the authority a lower interest rate. Also, Dalton said the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates in September.
Meanwhile, the airport is moving forward with planning for a new air traffic control tower, to be located near its current one. Engineer Ken Ross said the new tower will be 95 feet tall, or about twice the size of the current outdated one.
“The old one we have is in poor condition,” he said. “When we expanded the runway, it made it difficult to see all four ends of the airport.”
He said a site design and environmental study have been completed, so the airport will be ready to compete for Federal Aviation Administration funding later this year.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
