New Air Traffic Control Tower At Lewis University Airport Opens Dec. 1

ROMEOVILLE, IL — State, county and local officials were on hand in Romeoville on Monday to celebrate the opening of an $8 million air traffic control tower at Lewis University Airport.

According to a release from the state, the project was supported with $6 million from Rebuild Illinois funding.

“Rebuild Illinois is touching every corner of our state, and today’s opening of the new air traffic control tower at Lewis University Airport is another testament to the investments we are making to advance our infrastructure—planes, trains, and automobiles included,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a release. “This air traffic control tower isn’t just about aviation safety—it’s about providing economic and educational opportunities for the people of Will County and all of Illinois.”

The new tower will open for operations on Dec. 1 for the airport, which is owned and operated by the Joliet Regional Port District, and staffed by air traffic controllers contracted through the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport is designated as a general aviation reliever airport by the FAA, according to a release.

“Will County is one of the fastest growing areas in our state, and we need to match that growth with investments in infrastructure,” said State Sen. Eric Mattson in a release. “Our future pilots will benefit from better security and communication that the tower will provide.”

The facility features two runways and serves as home to approximately 140 aircraft, including seven jets. Takeoffs and landings consistently exceed 100,000 a year.

“This new air traffic control tower will make our airspace safer, especially for the residents living under the flight paths of planes using the airport,” State Rep. Dagamara Avelar said in a release. “The tower will also increase the volume of traffic our area can handle, optimizing our community for further economic growth. The completion of this project marks a new beginning for our community, and I am excited to see what the future holds.”

The new tower not only will provide a higher level of safety at the airport, but it will benefit airspace in the entire region, which includes Midway and O’Hare international airports, as well as provide enhanced training for prospective pilots at Lewis University, according to a release. It is the first air traffic control tower in Will County.

“This completed project shows our commitment to reinvigorating our infrastructure for the next generation,” said State Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel in a release. “I am happy to see the project completed just in time for the holiday travel season.”

“Rebuild Illinois is strengthening our state’s status as the transportation hub of the nation by investing in all modes of transportation, aviation included,” said Illinois Department of Transportation and Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “The new air traffic control tower at Lewis University will positively impact safety and mobility in an important part of the state for many years to come.”