TRAFFIC OPERATIONS RETURN TO NORMAL AT LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOLLOWING WATER MAIN BREAK UNDER TERMINAL AREA ROADWAY

(Los Angeles, California – August 4, 2006) Flight operations and vehicular traffic are normal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) this morning following a water main break that occurred at 7 p.m. last night under the Lower/Arrivals Level roadway between Terminals 5 and 6. The water caused the roadway pavement in front of Terminal 6 to buckle in two areas, flooding the roadway with water less than two inches deep, and resulting in vehicle traffic being rerouted around the affected area throughout the night. The roadway was re-opened at 4 a.m. this morning. No flight delays due to the water main rupture were reported.

The broken water main supplies the fire suppression systems (sprinklers and standpipes) in Terminals 4 through 8 on the south side of the Central Terminal Area. While the fire suppression systems are inactive, public safety will be ensured through a 24-hour surveillance (fire watch). This calls for airport personnel to patrol the affected terminals until the water main is repaired and fire suppression systems are restored to normal. The fire detection systems (smoke detectors and fire alarms) were not affected.

LAWA structural engineers and maintenance workers continue to perform assessments to determine the exact location and cause of the break, as well as the extent of damage to the roadway.

The multi-agency response included several City departments, including first responders Los Angeles Fire, Los Angeles Airport Police, Los Angeles Police and LAX Airport Operations – supported by Los Angeles Building & Safety structural engineers and several LAX Construction & Maintenance night-shift crews.