The Gary/Chicago International Airport on reached a pivotal deal for its runway extension project, the Gary Post-Tribune reports. The agreement with Canadian National Railway allows the Gary airport to proceed with the removal of CN's embankment at the end of the runway -- one of the biggest undertakings of the project. The Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority approved the deal Oct. 28, with CN expected to sign on within 10 days.

CN is described as the key player in the decade-long negotiations. The Airport Board is still working on final agreements with the two other railroads involved in the project, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern, but a date for finalization of those agreements isn't set.

The lack of a deadline concerns Gary Jet Center owner Wil Davis. Davis has hired former Airport Director Paul Karas to represent him in the negotiations. As then-Airport Director, Karas began the negotiations for the runway project in 2000.

"My biggest concern is that I need to know all three railroads agree to work together," Davis said. "Status quo is what the railroads want, and we can't let them have the status quo."

The FAA has given the airport a deadline of Dec. 31, 2013, to move the embankment. If the deadline isn't met, the FAA will shorten the length of the 7,000-foot runway by 1,000 feet, creating a safety clearance.

The CN portion of the project includes the airport constructing a rail line for CN that will wrap around the area of the extended runway. The rail's purpose is twofold. It will allow the airport to remove the CN lines in way of the project, and CN will connect its existing lines to the wrap-around track. The agreement also provides for a land swap between CN and the Gary airport. Once the project is done, CN will take control over the newly constructed line, and the airport will take ownership of CN's land it needs for the extension. Interim Airport Director Steve Landry said there's no set price tag on the rail construction.

Former board member Mike Doyne is concerned CSXT and Norfolk Southern haven't agreed to a final deal. The Airport Board has already approved an agreement with CSXT for internal engineering work. The agreement requires the airport to refund up to $300,000 of CSX's cost for the work.

"Every time you think you're close," Doyne said. "They come up with another way to worm out of it.