GCIA has seen extensive investments since 2015
The Gary/Chicago International Airport marked a decade of growth Friday with a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of an $18.3 million air traffic control tower.
“Today’s groundbreaking ceremony represents the culmination of years of planning, collaboration and investment in the future of the Gary/Chicago International Airport,” said Dan Vicari, Executive Director of GCIA. “The new air traffic control tower will ensure GCIA remains a key economic engine for Northwest Indiana and the Chicago region for decades to come.”
A week earlier, the airport cut the ribbon on its 55-acre Air Cargo Campus.
New Air Traffic Control Tower
The existing Air Traffic Control Tower was constructed in 1972 and no longer reflects the operational needs of a modern aviation facility.
Planning for its replacement began in 2022 and advanced through FAA siting approval and design funding milestones in 2024 before receiving full federal construction funding earlier this year.
The new tower will be twice as tall as the current structure and feature modern technology designed to improve visibility, communications, operational efficiency and safety for air traffic controllers and aircraft operators.
Construction is expected to create approximately 120 skilled-trade jobs and require roughly 24,000 construction hours, with completion anticipated by late 2027.
A Decade of Airport Growth
GCIA has seen extensive growth since 2015, beginning with the expansion of the airport’s main runway to nearly 9,000 feet, making it the second-longest runway in the region after O’Hare International Airport.
The runway expansion allowed the airport to service larger and heavier aircraft.
In 2018, GCIA opened its U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, allowing air travelers arriving from international destinations to use the airport without having to clear customs elsewhere.
Cargo Operations Expand
In 2020, GCIA began cargo service operations through UPS, which signed a long-term lease agreement with the airport.
Cargo operations have quickly expanded, and GCIA now ranks third in Indiana by air cargo volume, with additional growth anticipated in the coming years.
In late 2023, GCIA announced its acquisition of the Griffith-Merrillville Airport, making GCIA one of only three aviation “systems” in the State of Indiana.
Major Infrastructure Investments Continue
In 2024, the airport reached several additional milestones.
GCIA unveiled a new website, broke ground on a $12 million, 47,000-square-foot aviation hangar, and began construction on its air cargo campus expansion, which was completed during the summer of 2026.
In 2025, the airport continued advancing its long-term infrastructure strategy with the acquisition of a 4.7-acre parcel of land intended to support additional cargo service expansion.
The airport also awarded a $15 million contract to construct a new cargo and general aviation ramp.
“As aviation continues to evolve, our infrastructure must evolve with it,” Vicari said.