"This is just a major, major milestone that has been long awaited by this airport board," said authority member Alesia Pritchett just after the vote.
The Gary airport runway expansion has proceeded by fits and starts since 2006. It has an estimated price tag of $174.1 million.
The airport has been negotiating for years with Canadian National and other railways to move active rail tracks that sit on an embankment just 130 feet from the northwest end of its main runway. Those tracks and the embankment have to be removed to allow the airport to expand the runway by 1,900 feet so it can handle large passenger and cargo planes.
"The berm is coming down," said Airport Authority Vice President James Cooper.
That could happen in less than a month. Canadian National has 24 days to remove its tracks before the airport authority moves into full possession of the embankment, lawyer Allison Bergman told the board.
Last year, new tracks were built for Canadian National that will allow it to move its trains off the embankment. The new track route loops around the footprint of the expanded runway. The airport paid the $28.7 million bill to build those tracks.
The airport expansion may take another giant leap forward Monday, when the authority is scheduled to vote on a resolution approving borrowing money to pay for the final projects. During the summer, the authority discussed borrowing up to $35 million for that purpose.
The last hurdle to completing the expansion is arriving at an agreement with environmental agencies on how to handle the significant soil and groundwater pollution in the runway expansion area. Testing will also begin Monday for possible pollution under the embankment, which is the one remaining unknown facing the project.
Local officials have confirmed that Canadian National could begin the process of "cutting-over" from its current active tracks to the new tracks as early as Monday morning. The construction process should take about 36 hours. In fact, cranes and other heavy equipment were already in place Friday, performing tasks on the new tracks.
Monday's "cut-over" process will prevent trains from entering Canadian National's Kirk Yard from the south for that period of time. Munster Police Chief Steve Scheckel said he has been assured by Canadian National that rail crossings at streets in nearby communities will not be blocked because of the move.
The airport authority also took action on several other items Friday associated with the deal. In addition, a deed was being filed at the Lake County Recorder's office Friday that will give the airport ownership of an abandoned rail line north of the airport, Bergman told the board.
That area could be used someday to expand the airport's crosswind runway.