The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a $1.7 million grant for the design and engineering of a new airport traffic control tower at the Gary/Chicago International Airport.

Officials announced the grant at Wednesday’s airport authority meeting after the authority approved a reimbursement agreement with the FAA. About 80 airports applied and only 20 were selected for grants, officials said.

“We’ve come a long way in the last several years in terms of the control tower,” said authority chairman Peter Visclosky.

In September, the FAA approved a siting study allowing for the tower’s placement at the airport, south of its main runway near the existing tower.

Funding came from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and was secured with help from U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland.

The new 95-foot tower will be about 50’ taller than the existing tower that was built in 1972. It will have advanced radar systems and communication tools to better support air traffic controllers in managing flight operations.

The airport’s expanded runway makes it difficult for air traffic controllers to see all four ends of the airport, officials said earlier.

Construction of the tower was estimated by airport executive director Dan Vicari at about $16 million. When funding is secured, he estimated construction could take place next year and possibly into 2026.

Vicari thanked Mrvan and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg for their support.

“This new tower will be the latest in a series of infrastructure upgrades to our airport and provides GCIA with the modern aircraft traffic control tower needed for our continued expansion…” he said.

In other business, the authority approved a $120,000 agreement with American StructurePoint Inc. for the oversight of highway lighting and a new cargo intersection along Airport Road.

Vicari said the current Airport Road lighting is a hodgepodge of street lights managed by different entities. The new lighting will stretch from Cline Avenue east to Clark Road.

Vicari said the Indiana Department of Construction has awarded a $800,000 contract to Hawk Construction to build the intersection for cargo traffic, west of the airport.

Construction is expected to begin in March and won’t require lane closures.

The authority also approved 4% rate increases and charges for airport tenants. No one spoke at the public hearing.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.