CHICAGO – Emboldened by his primary election victory, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is pushing past his critics to try to get construction started on a third Chicago-area airport that has been talked about for decades.

Declaring that "the time for talk is over," Jackson said he would lead a groundbreaking ceremony at the site in a month, despite the opposition to his plans from officials in the southern suburb that would be home to the small airport. Will County officials, who believe they should control the airport, responded Thursday by saying the congressman's plans are flawed and his airport commission does not own the land or have legal authority to do any work at the site.

It's the latest skirmish in a battle for control of an airport that could create thousands of jobs and help ease the economic struggles of Chicago's south suburbs. The one-terminal, one-runway airport near the community of Peotone also could help take pressure off Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, the second busiest in the nation and a major hub where delays ripple across the country.