A new construction project at Milwaukee’s Mitchell Airport has Cream City primed to become the Midwest’s newest air and land freight hub.
The airport will be breaking ground later this fall to transform a former U.S. Air Force reserve base, located at the edge of the airport, into a state-of-the-art air cargo facility. Many industry experts believe that the new facility will challenge Chicagoland airports in providing air shippers with a more affordable option to import their goods.
“This is an exciting time for air freight shippers who fly their cargo into the Midwest, many of whom have grown frustrated with increased prices and congestion at nearby airports in and around Chicago,” said Alan Dong, Air Freight Manager for OEC Group. “This is a major opportunity for global businesses, which are looking for a more convenient option to import their goods, to get in on the ground floor and take advantage of lower pricing opportunities.”
The new cargo facility at Mitchell airport is being hailed as an economic stimulus opportunity that could quickly establish Milwaukee as one of the country’s most desirable places to import cargo. Prospective importers who want to take space at the cargo facility have a chance to take advantage of one of the most unique opportunities in the industry, to have their cargo space built to fit their specific needs.
“It’s not often that cargo shippers get to tell developers what they want in their spaces and then have developers go and build it,” said Jack Rabenn, vice president at Crow Holdings Development. “To have this opportunity in the O’Hare gateway market is extremely rare, and interested shippers should jump at this chance.”
One of the key features of the project is a 330,000-square-foot air cargo facility that will offer 45 truck bays and 75 trailer parking bays. Additionally, nearly half a million square feet of aircraft ramps are being redeveloped, making it easier for planes to move around the facility. Finally, the facility will be large enough to accommodate up to five Boeing 747-400 aircraft at any given time.
Also making the airport an attractive option for shippers is that it is easily accessible to most of the country by truck. The airport is also surrounded by trucking and railroad companies, with millions of square feet of railroad space right down the road, giving shippers numerous last-mile options.
“Milwaukee is less than a 24-hour drive to most of the East Coast, Mid-West, Great Plains, and Mountain regions of the U.S.,” said James Vanderloo, branch manager for OEC Group’s Milwaukee office. “With proper planning, shippers will soon be able to take advantage of Milwaukee’s convenience and location. Shippers should start educating themselves on what Mitchell Airport can offer and begin to plan their supply chain strategies in order to gain the most benefit from this facility when it opens.”
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