MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHTS: Key Updates on LAX Modernization Projects

01/02/2020 12:00 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 2, 2020

CONTACT:
Charles H. Pannunzio
(424) 646-5260
 Work continues on Terminal 1.5, where guests use a covered walkway on the Upper/Departures Level.
JANUARY MODERNIZATION HIGHLIGHTS
Key Updates on Construction Projects at LAX
(Los Angeles, CA) Each month, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) shares updates on current and upcoming construction projects at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). As the airport is in the midst of a multibillion-dollar modernization program, new projects are starting with regular frequency. This newsletter contains information about the status of projects within the terminals at LAX, as well as construction impacts to the airport roadways and the surrounding communities.

As the winter holiday period ends, work in the Central Terminal Area (CTA) at LAX will ramp up. One of the biggest projects impacting curb space is construction of "terminal vertical cores" at seven locations in the CTA. These cores will include elevators and escalators that connect all levels, including a new bridge level from which guests will be able to reach the Automated People Mover (APM) train when it opens in 2023. At many of the locations where the work is taking place, the rightmost drop-off lane on the Upper/Departures Level has been converted to a temporary walkway.

An interactive map that includes current construction projects can be found here: https://www.flylax.com/en/lax-traffic-and-ground-transportation/airport-construction-map Click on the hard hats for more information about specific lane closures and construction projects.


With the opening of LAX-it, the taxi and ride app pickup lot, personal vehicles now must use the outer lanes on the Lower/Arrivals Level. No private vehicles are allowed on the inner lanes as they are reserved for LAWA-operated buses and shuttles. Guests who are using taxis or ride apps to leave LAX should follow walking signs or take the green LAX-it shuttle to the new location. Taxi and ride app drop-off continues at the terminal curbs on the Upper/Departures Level, where hotel and private parking lot shuttles now also pick up and drop off guests. Most other modes of ground transportation and private vehicles are picking up guests at the outer commercial islands on the Lower/Arrivals Level.

In addition, Little Century west of Sepulveda Boulevard is closed to private vehicles. Only Lyft vehicles and guests going to the Park 'N Fly lot may use this access.

For regular updates on traffic and parking availability at LAX, visit the @FlyLAXstats 
Twitter feed. We encourage our guests to check current conditions before heading to the airport.

Center Way is reduced to two lanes between Theme Way and Circle Way, and intermittently closed overnight, for construction of the Automated People Mover (APM) train's East Station.

Roadway and Transit Impacts in the Central Terminal Area:

  • Terminals 1 and 2: The right-most drop-off lane on the Upper/Departures Level is closed to vehicles until later this year while it is used for a covered pedestrian walkway in the Terminal 1.5 construction area between Terminals 1 and 2. 
  • Tom Bradley International Terminal: The right-most pickup lane on the Lower/Arrivals Level is closed between Columns B2 and B5 on the northern side of the terminal for use as a pedestrian walkway during work to add a terminal vertical core to the front of the building. The outer commercial island on the Lower/Arrivals Level has been widened by 6 feet to allow space for more guests. Arriving guests are also encouraged to use the new Terminal B Pickup area on the ground floor of Parking Structure 3. The right drop-off lane is closed on the Upper/Departures Level for use as a pedestrian walkway terminal vertical core construction. 
  • Terminals 4 and 5: Construction of a sidewalk extension in the drop-off lanes on the Upper/Departures Level in preparation for construction of a terminal vertical core will close both drop-off lanes east of Terminal 4. 
  • Terminals 5 and 6: One of the two drop-off lanes on the Upper/Departures Level has been replaced by a temporary covered walkway during demolition and construction of a terminal vertical core. 
  • Center Way/East Way: Center Way is closed between the Tom Bradley International Terminal and West Way to allow for construction of the APM's West Station. Center Way is reduced to two lanes from Theme Way to Circle Way, with intermittent full closures in effect Monday through Friday from 12-9 a.m. for Cast-In-Drilled-Hole (foundation) work for the East CTA APM Station. When the work moves into the intersection of East Way and Center Way later this month, a temporary traffic pattern is expected to close southbound East Way for approximately two weeks. Motorists using Parking Structure 1 will continue to exit onto Center Way during that time, but all other vehicles will be detoured to World Way South.
Work to install new curbs and gutters at the intersection of Century and Aviation boulevards may
require single-lane closures at times in January.

Impacts Near LAX:

  • Jetway Boulevard: An 800-foot section of the new road, which will eventually connect Westchester Parkway and Century Boulevard, is open to serve the new Avis Rental Cars location and provide access to the ride app holding lot. The remainder of the road will open in 2023. Traffic signals and crosswalks have been installed at the intersection of Jetway Boulevard and Westchester Parkway to allow controlled turns for employee parking. 
  • Aviation Boulevard: One lane will be closed in each direction between Century Boulevard and Arbor Vitae Street starting later this month for Cast-In-Drilled-Hole (foundation) work for the Intermodal Transportation Facility-East. One through lane will remain open in each direction.
  • Century Boulevard: Single-lane closures are possible in the vicinity of Avation Boulevard for installation of curbs and gutters near Metro's new rail overpass.
  • 96th Street bridge: A new traffic pattern is in place, with inbound vehicles heading to the CTA using the right-most lane while taxis and ride-app vehicles going to LAX-it using the left lane. 
  • 98th Street: Work to install a new water main under 98th Street between Aviation Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard will require conversion of the street to one-way traffic heading westbound, starting sometime in early 2020.
  • "Little Century": The portion of Century Boulevard west of Sepulveda Boulevard (sometimes called "Little Century") has been restricted to Lyft vehicles heading to LAX-it and guests using the Park 'N Fly lot.
  • Streets surrounding LAX: Intermittent, short-term lane closures may take place  as needed on streets in the LAX area. Streets include Century Boulevard, 96th and 98th Streets, Airport Boulevard, Westchester Parkway/Arbor Vitae Street, and Aviation Boulevard. At least one through lane of traffic will be maintained at all times and access to businesses will be maintained.
Baggage Carousels 1 and 2 have reopened in Terminal 4 while Carousels 3 and 4 are taken offline during work to build a new terminal vertical core.

Terminal Construction/Renovation:

  • Terminal 1: Gate 10 is permanently closed for construction of Terminal 1.5. Gate 12A is closed until completion of Terminal 1.5. The pedestrian bridge connecting Parking Structure 1 and the terminal is closed, with signs placed to direct passengers.
  • Terminals 2 and 3: Because of construction guests should make sure they go to the correct terminal, as the indoor connectors on the Upper/Departures and Lower/Arrivals levels are closed for demolition work that begins later this month. According to Delta Air Lines, its passengers flying to all international destinations as well as Atlanta, Detroit, Hawaii, New York (JFK), Minneapolis/St. Paul and Washington National should check their bags in Terminal 2. All other domestic passengers should drop their bags at Terminal 3. Sky Priority passengers can drop their bags in either terminal. Guests in T3 are routed downstairs to a Security Screening Check Point on the Lower/Arrivals Level. 
  • Tom Bradley International Terminal: Due to APM vertical core construction, the north escalators and stairs located outside the terminal are temporarily closed. Several offices on the Upper/Departures Level have moved due to the construction. The Customs and Border Protection office is now located near the south checkpoint escalators. The LAWA information desk is now across from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. International Currency Exchange is now on the north side of the terminal. A future AMEX Centurion Lounge is under construction through early 2020. Gate 131 is closed for construction of improvements to the baggage handling facility. Gate 132, which has been closed for work related to the Midfield Satellite Concourse, is expected to reopen in February, after which Gate 134 will close until late 2020. Work continues on an addition to the terminal near Gate 148 that will house elevators and escalators that access the tunnel to the new concourse. 
  • Terminals 4 and 5: A $1.6 billion renovation program continues. Baggage Carousels 1 and 2 in Terminal 4 have been replaced and expanded, with Carousels 3 and 4 taken off line during construction of a terminal vertical core. XpresSpa is moving from the area near Gate 50B to the area near Gate 50A as part of the work to construct a Terminal Vertical Core between Terminals 5 and 6.
  • Terminal 6: Gate 61 is closed for construction of a terminal vertical core.
The bridge connecting Parking Structures 2a and 2b is scheduled to be demolished in mid-January
in advance of work on the APM's Center Station.

Sidewalk/Walkway/Parking Structure Restrictions and Closures:

  • Real-Time Parking Updates: Guests can access maps with real-time information on how full parking structures within the Central Terminal Area and Economy Lot E are by visiting https://www.flylax.com/en/parking-at-lax. Parking rates and a calculator to estimate costs can also be found on this webpage. Parking availability can also be found on the @FlyLAXstats Twitter feed.
  • Terminals 1 and 2: Construction on Terminal 1.5 will narrow the sidewalk between Terminals 1 and 2 on the Lower/Arrivals Level. A covered walkway is located on the Upper/Departures Level, and will be in place until March 2020.
  • Parking Structure 2a/2b: The bridge connecting Parking Structures 2a and 2b is scheduled to be demolished later this month to make way for construction of the APM. A  temporary exit has opened from P2b onto West Way. In addition, P2b now uses an automated payment system.
  • Parking Structures 3 and 4: The bridge between P3 and P4 has been demolished. A temporary traffic pattern is in place due to enabling work for construction of the APM. An automated payment system has replaced the cashier booths, with motorists exiting the structures onto World Way. Because of construction in the area, the number of exit lanes is limited. The ground level of P3 has been converted into a passenger pickup area. The fourth level of PS4 will be closed until mid-January for installation of fire sprinklers.
  • Terminals 5 and 6: A temporary, covered walkway is in place between Terminals 5 and 6 on the Upper/Departures Level to accommodate guests while a terminal vertical core, which will connect to the future APM, is constructed.
  • Parking Structure 6: The pedestrian bridge between Parking Structure 6 and Terminal 6 has been removed. Guests should access Terminals 5 and 6 from the Lower/Arrivals Level.
  • Parking Structure 7: Over-height vehicles are no longer allowed on the roof of P7. Vehicles exit the structure from the ground floor. An automated payment system has replaced cashier booths. Vehicles now use a temporary exit onto World Way South.
  • Lot E: Economy Lot E is open at 5455 W. 111th St., offering approximately 2,700 long-term spaces for $12 a day. 
Please note that all dates provided in this notice are subject to change. Up-to-date construction alerts showing roadway lane restrictions and sidewalk closures in the terminal loop, as well as a pedestrian walking map and helpful airline terminal finder, can be found at  www.flyLAX.com. LAX also partners with Waze, the world’s largest community-based traffic reporting app, to provide enhanced information on conditions inside the airport and on nearby roadways. 
While Gate 61 is closed for construction of a terminal vertical core, the seating area will remain open.

Updates on Other Projects:

  • Airport Police Facility: Construction crews will be excavating and trenching within the project site as well as preparing for and installing concrete, duct banks and the on-site construction management office. Parking will not be allowed on 94th Street west of Lincoln Boulevard for the duration of the project.
Seen above at left is work on the foundation of the future Intermodal Transporation Facility-West, located just east of LAX. At right is a rendering of the completed project, which opens in 2021.


About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 

LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.  

  

LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California, with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion, according to an economic study based on 2014 operations. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion; $966 million in state and local taxes; and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues. 

 

LAX was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named  a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

 

LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.  

For more information about LAX, please visit  www.flyLAX.com or follow on Twitter  @flyLAXAirport, on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport, and on YouTube at   www.YouTube.com/laxairport1.  

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities.  Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.

 
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