(Los Angeles, CA) Each month, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) shares updates on current and upcoming construction projects at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Van Nuys Airport (VNY). This newsletter contains information about the status of projects at LAX and VNY, as well as construction impacts to the airport roadways and the surrounding communities.

On April 20, a new headhouse for Terminals 2 and 3 will open to the public, the first phase of a $2.3 billion modernization of the facilities. The headhouse will include new ticketing lobbies and baggage claim areas, a consolidated Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint and a Delta Sky Club.

 

Also in April, work continues on a number of projects related to the LAX Automated People Mover (APM), including construction of several elevated bridges that will connect terminals to future stations. While the removal of a temporary support will restore an additional lane on the Upper/Departures Level near Terminals 1 and 2, work is expected to begin on a similar project between Terminals 5 and 6, and lane closures are possible throughout the month. Work also is concluding on the APM guideway section over Sepulveda Boulevard.

 

Construction also is taking place on the APM train guideway and stations elsewhere along the 2.25-mile route, as well as terminal modernization and other projects in the Central Terminal Area (CTA).

 

 

 

 

 

The new headhouse for Terminals 2 and 3, which is scheduled to open on April 20, includes a larger, consolidated security checkpoint with Automated Screening Lanes (photo credit: Rank Studios).

Terminal Construction/Modernization:

• Terminal 1: A portion of the western end of the terminal on the Concourse Level is temporarily closed for the installation of a passenger bridge connecting the building to the APM's future Central CTA station.
  
• Terminals 2 and 3: Work is wrapping up on a new headhouse, including ticket counters and baggage carousels. A ribbon-cutting was held March 29, and the building is scheduled to open to the public on April 20. Guests will notice a new path of travel through the terminal once the headhouse is open. Construction is taking place on a replacement for Terminal 3, which will open later this year.
  
• Tom Bradley International Terminal: A portion of the new Terminal Vertical Core is open in the north end of the building, providing new escalators to reach three levels of the terminal as well as a route for arriving domestic passengers to access Baggage Claim 31 on the Lower/Arrivals Level. Tunnels allow access to the central entrances on both the Lower/Arrivals and Upper/Departures levels. The south entrances to the terminal are temporarily closed. The stairway on the south end of the terminal and escalators are temporarily closed as work shifts to that area of the terminal. The bike rack on the Lower/Arrivals Level at the south end of the terminal has been temporarily relocated to Parking Structure 4. COVID-19 tests are available in the south end of the terminal on the Lower/Arrivals Level (click here for more information).
  
• Terminals 4 and 5: As the modernization program continues, the eastern half of the Terminal 4 headhouse has closed in preparation for demolition and construction of a new facility. Baggage claim is now located in the former Customs area in the west end of the terminal. Several ticket counters have been relocated to the western portion of the ticketing lobby. A project to realign the gates in Terminal 5 also continues.
  
• Terminal 6: One gate in the northwestern part of the building is closed for construction of the Terminal 5.5 vertical core. Several additional gates are closed for modernization.
  

Updates on Other Projects:

• Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP): Work continues on station and pedestrian bridge construction. Crews completed the installation of structural steel at the Intermodal Transportation Facility-East (ITF-East) station last month, and have begun the installation of structural steel to support the station canopy at the West CTA station. In addition, steel truss installation for the pedestrian bridge at Terminal 1 was completed. Segmental construction of the guideway superstructure is also concluding over Parking Structure 2b and Sepulveda Boulevard. The success of these operations brings the guideway superstructure to 98% completion.

• Receiving Station-X: Work continues on the Receiving Station-X (RS-X) project at the northwestern corner of the airport property. RS-X will improve the reliability of electrical service at LAX, moving the airport off of a nearby receiving station that is shared with the neighboring community. Portions of Pershing Drive at and south of the intersection with Westchester Parkway will be restricted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until the end of April to facilitate installation of sanitary sewer and storm drain lines. Nighttime work is taking place to demolish existing duct bank (shoring installation, demolition and removal of concrete and soil) followed by construction of new duct bank (resetting conduit, pouring concrete, backfilling of the trench and shoring removal). Daytime work includes interior of the control house and ongoing site work includes landscape, new project entrance and on-site utilities.

Roadway and Transit Impacts in the Central Terminal Area:

• World Way: Overnight lane closures are possible on the Lower/Arrivals Level for construction activities. The airport return ramp from the Upper/Departures Level will be closed during limited overnight hours for work on the APM guideway. A detour will be available.
  
• Terminal 1: The temporary bridge support needed during construction of an elevated pedestrian walkway to the APM's future Center CTA station will be removed in early April, however overnight lane closures are still possible.
  
• Terminals 2 and 3: The right drop-off lane in the construction area on the Upper/Departures Level is closed for use as a temporary walkway. Lane closures take place overnight in the vicinity of the new elevated pedestrian bridge to the future Center CTA station. Lanes are also reduced in the area of the elevated walkway between Terminal 3 and the future West CTA station.
  
• Tom Bradley International Terminal: Drop-off lanes on the Upper/Departures Level on the southern end of the terminal are temporarily closed for the construction of the Terminal Vertical Core. Three through lanes are available in this area, but guests should be dropped off either at the north end of the terminal or past the construction zone. Terminal B pick-up, on the first level of Parking Structure 3 is also an option for dropping guests off.
  
• Terminals 4 and 5: One of the two drop-off lanes on the Upper/Departures Level has been replaced by a temporary, covered walkway stretching east from the midpoint of Terminal 4 past the new Terminal Vertical Core. Shuttle stop locations have temporarily changed due to construction at Terminal 4. Lane closures may be needed in the vicinity of the new pedestrian walkway to the future West CTA station.
• 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 construction of a Terminal Vertical Core. Overnight lane closures may be required in the vicinity to support the construction of an elevated walkway between Terminal 5 and the future Center CTA station, with a shoring tower installed later this month.
  
• East Way: Overnight closures are possible on both levels for construction of the APM guideway. Northbound East Way is closed, except for access to the Bob Hope USO at LAX and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tower.
• Center Way: Center Way between West Way and Theme Way will be closed between 1 and 9 a.m. daily. Vehicle traffic will be directed to World Way to exit the Central Terminal Area. Vehicles exiting Parking Structure 2a will be routed to eastbound Center Way around the closure to exit the Central Terminal Area. Center Way from East Way to World Way will also be closed nightly from 1 to 9 a.m. During these closures, traffic exiting Parking Structure 1 will be routed to East Way to exit the Central Terminal Area via World Way South. The Center Way return ramp to World Way North will be closed from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. until April 10. Those needing to return to the airport's central terminal area are asked to please follow the posted detour notices. These closures will support the construction of the APM guideway and stations.
• Theme Way: Theme Way is closed between World Way and Center Way for APM construction through July.
• West Way: Northbound West Way is temporarily closed between World Way South and World Way North on the Lower/Arrivals Level for work on the APM. Southbound traffic will use the northbound lanes in the area of the construction, with egress from Parking Structure 2b, the entrance to Parking Structure 5 and pedestrian traffic maintained. Overnight lane closures are possible on both levels for construction of the APM guideway.

Central Terminal Area roadways with full-time lane closures as of April 1, 2022.

Sidewalk/Walkway/Parking Structure Restrictions and Closures:

• Real-Time Parking Updates: Parking structures are quite busy and have been reaching capacity. Guests are encouraged to plan ahead, with pre-booking highly recommended, as Smart Parking features begin to roll out in the Central Terminal Area. Check the latest information on parking availability by visiting the @FlyLAXstats Twitter feed. Guests can access maps with real-time information on parking availability 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 Structure 1: Premium and valet parking are available on the ground floor as part of the Smart Parking system that includes the ability to pre-book spaces, intuitive wayfinding, electric vehicle (EV) chargers and more. Approximately 20 spaces on each level are reserved for Low-Emission Fuel Efficient Vehicles. Traffic exiting the structure is directed west on Center Way to East Way and World Way South to exit the airport when work takes place at Center and Sky ways.
• Parking Structures 2a/2b: Parking Structure 2a has reopened, however the roof remains closed for work on the APM's Center CTA station. A temporary exit is available from P2b onto West Way.
  
• Tom Bradley International Terminal: New escalators have opened inside the north core of the terminal, replacing the outside escalators. The staircase and escalators on the south end of the building are closed as work has shifted south. The temporary pedestrian walkway also has been extended further south on the Upper/Departures Level.
  
• Parking Structures 3 and 4: Terminal B Pickup on the Lower/Arrivals Level of P3 is available, with taxis allowed to use the western-most curb during a pilot.
• Parking Structures 5 and 6: The roof of P5 is temporarily closed. New EV chargers are available in both structures. Pedestrians are detoured around a column for a future elevated walkway east of P6. COVID-19 tests are available at the lab adjacent to P6. Click here for more information.
  
• Parking Structure 7: Material removal and construction of pedestrian bridge foundations may reduce the number of spaces available on levels 2 and 3. A portion of the roof is closed for waterproofing ahead of the installation of a Smart Parking system.
  
• Center Way: The sidewalk path between Terminal 7 and LAX-it is temporarily altered due to work on the APM at the corner of Center and Circle ways. The new pedestrian route is marked with detour signs.
• World Way South: The sidewalk on the north side of the roadway past Terminal 7 is temporarily closed. A detour is available for pedestrians walking to Sepulveda Boulevard.

Impacts Near LAX: 

• Airport Boulevard: The dedicated right turn lane from southbound Airport Boulevard to 96th Street is closed during work on the APM guideway. Motorists can still turn right onto 96th Street at the traffic signal. Roadway work at the intersection of Airport and 96th Street may limit the number of available lanes overnight. 
  
• Arbor Vitae Street: For street widening improvements, a continuous single eastbound lane closure is needed between Aviation Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard. To perform underground utility investigation, temporary right-hand lane closures will take place at each intersection between Bellanca Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard.
• Arbor Vitae Street/Aviation Boulevard: Day and night intermittent lane closures are possible Monday-Saturday at the intersection for the installation of the LADWP 12-inch water line for the future ConRAC facility. Intermittent lane closures are needed, during daytime hours Monday-Saturday, to perform underground utility investigations on the southeast & southwest corners of the intersection.
• Aviation Boulevard: Nightly full closures are possible between Arbor Vitae Street and Century Boulevard for installation of steel at the future Intermodal Transportation Facility-East station. One lane is closed in each direction between Century Boulevard and Arbor Vitae Street to facilitate APM construction. One through lane will remain open in each direction during the day.
• Century/Sepulveda boulevards: Intermittent closures of the northbound and southbound ramps at Century and Sepulveda boulevards may be required during overnight hours to work on the APM guideway. Additionally, closures of the LAX access ramp from northbound Sepulveda Boulevard may be required to support APM guideway construction.
• La Cienega Boulevard: In support of utility enabling and street widening improvements, a continuous single southbound lane closure is needed between Arbor Vitae Street and the 405 freeway off ramp. Additionally, northbound traffic will merge to a single lane between the 405 freeway off ramp and Arbor Vitae Street for the duration of the street widening improvements project.
• 96th Street: Traffic is limited to one eastbound lane (local traffic only) between Airport Boulevard and Bellanca Avenue. Daytime construction activities will occur within this closure. Nightly full closures will be needed to support delivering materials to the elevated guideway to support construction.
• 98th Street: Westbound lanes are closed between Vicksburg Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) continues working on a project to install a new water main. Overnight lane closures are in effect near Avion Drive to enable utility work in the area.
• Pershing Drive: Traffic may be limited to one northbound and one southbound lane from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays between Sandpiper Street and Waterview Street for work on the RS-X project.
  
• Sepulveda Boulevard: Lane closures may take place during nighttime hours on northbound and southbound Sepulveda Boulevard to construct the APM guideway over the roadway. Single lane or two-lane directional closures of the roadway will only take place during overnight hours. One northbound and southbound through lane will always be available during the lane closures. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's 48-inch water line project will require nightly lane restrictions between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Sepulveda Boulevard between Century Boulevard and 98th Street through mid-April.
  
• 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.
• World Way West: One westbound lane is closed between Pershing Drive and Maintenance Road for vault and duct bank installation for the Receiving Station-X project, and motorists are reminded to observe the 30-mph speed limit to help protect workers.
  

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. 

An earth mover performs work on Runway 16L at Van Nuys Airport

Update from Van Nuys Airport (VNY):

About Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is the City of Los Angeles department that owns and operates Los Angeles International (LAX) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation airports, as well as aviation-related property in Palmdale. Both play an integral role in helping to meet the Southern California regional demand for passenger, cargo and general aviation service. Both airports make a distinct contribution to the strength of the system as it provides a high level of safety, security and service for its customers, communities and stakeholders. More information can be found at flylax.com. 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.   ###