Project News

Third of Six Pedestrian Bridge Structures Connecting Terminals to LAX People Mover Stations Successfully Installed

Flatiron is proud to be part of the team creating the Automated People Mover at Los Angeles International Airport. Another important step in this innovative project has been achieved. This news release was issued by the project owner, Los Angeles World Airports(LAWA).

The bridge will connect Terminal 3 to a future Central Terminal Area Automated People Mover station.

(Los Angeles, CA) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) today announced the successful placement of the third of six pedestrian bridge structures that will connect terminals to Automated People Mover (APM) stations in the Central Terminal Area (CTA). The latest bridge, which crosses over World Way, will connect the West CTA station to Terminal 3 once the train system is complete.

Over the course of four evenings, partially pre-fabricated steel trusses, ranging in weight from 56,000 to 97,000 pounds, were assembled and lifted into place with a 350-ton crane. Supported over the roadway by a shoring tower, the segments were welded together. The installation of floor and roof beams is underway, which will complete the erection of structural steel for the pedestrian walkway.

“With the completion of this operation, the steel structures for half of the pedestrian bridges over World Way have been successfully installed,” said Jake Adams, Deputy Executive Director, Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP). “As the airport continues to undergo major landside and airside modernization efforts, these pedestrian bridges are a prelude to the future of connected travel at LAX.”

Click here to view an educational video on constructing the pedestrian walkways over World Way. High-resolution photos are available upon request.

With the steel beams placed for the third pedestrian bridge, work will begin to install the underdeck scaffolding that will allow construction to continue above the roadway, minimizing the impacts on the traveling public.

The first pedestrian bridge, which is located at Terminal 4.5 and will connect to the West CTA station, was installed in June of 2021, followed by the installation of the second pedestrian bridge that will connect from the Center CTA station to Terminal 2 in September. Currently, both bridges are being prepared for the installation of glass panels that will happen later this year.

The remaining three bridges – at Terminal 1, Tom Bradley International Terminal and at Terminal 5.5 – will be installed later this year, with the Terminal 1 bridge installation scheduled to begin in February.

The centerpiece of LAX’s Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP), the APM is a 2.25-mile electric train system that will transport travelers in and out of the CTA, connecting them to new off-site parking facilities, regional light rail transportation and the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility. The APM project is a critical investment into the infrastructure of Los Angeles as the city prepares to host the 2028 Olympic Games. The APM is expected to relieve congestion within the CTA and in turn the surrounding thoroughfares, thereby reducing emissions and vehicle miles traveled.

To learn more about LAX’s modernization, visit FlyLAX.com/ConnectingLAX.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX, the third-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States in 2019, is in the midst of a $14.5-billion capital improvement program that will touch on all nine passenger terminals and build new facilities, including an Automated People Mover (APM) train, Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) facility and a 12- to 15-gate Bradley West Gates addition to the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

In 2019, LAX served nearly 88.1 million passengers and offered an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 113 destinations in the U.S. and 1,200 weekly nonstop flights to 91 markets in 46 countries on 72 commercial airlines.

LAX generates 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 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 (LAWA), a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.

LAWA is leading the aviation industry in sustainability practices, with initiatives related to water management, energy (electricity) management, air quality, recycling and natural resources management. In 2019, LAX received Level III ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airport Councils International-Europe.

LAWA is also a leader in inclusivity, operating eight programs that provide opportunities for business enterprises including local, small, minority-owned, veteran-owned and disadvantaged firms, and working together with community partners to offer the HireLAX Apprenticeship Readiness Program, which targets local workers to make them ready for rewarding careers in the construction trades, and the Build LAX Academy, designed to prepare small contracting businesses for success when working on projects at LAX.

LAX was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX in 2018, and was honored as the “Most Innovative Airport for Passenger Experience” in 2019 by the American Association of Airport Executives. LAX is the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. Other recent honors have included selection as the No. 9 Best Airport (Wall Street Journal); No. 7 Best On-Time Performance for a Mega-Hub Airport (OAG); one of “The World’s Best Airports for Business Travelers” (GlobeHunters); Public-Private Partnership of the Year (P3 Bulletin); Urth Caffe, Best Airport Coffee Concession of the Year (Global FAB Awards); Innovation of the Year, Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility (ARTBA); Best Project, United Airlines Terminal 7 and 8 Redevelopment Program (Engineering News Record California); North American Public-Private Partnership Deal of the Year (IJ Global); and Innovative Transportation Solution of the Year, Automated People Mover (WTS LA).

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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