CENTRAL TERMINAL AREA CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO FURTHER IMPACT MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS

(Los Angeles, California – January 25, 2013)  Construction continues on various projects in the Central Terminal Area (CTA) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – all part of the ongoing $4.1-billion airport modernization program.  The latest impact to travelers will be the closure of the elevator on the west side of Parking Structure 4 facing the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) for refurbishment, starting at 1 a.m. on Monday, January 29, 2013, through February 22, 2013.  Comprehensive way-finding signage is being installed to ensure pedestrians can readily access TBIT and Terminal 4 to/from Parking Structure 4.

Passengers and motorists are advised that roadway lane restrictions are still in effect on a nightly or continuous (24 hours seven days a week) basis in the Central Terminal Area:

• Nightly lane restrictions on the Lower/Arrivals Level generally start at 12 midnight and end at 8 a.m. – will slightly change if arriving flights are delayed
• Nightly lane restrictions mainly affect the roadways between Terminals 3 and 6
• Nightly lane restrictions on both the lower and upper roadways in front of Terminal 5 (Delta Airlines) start at 10 p.m. and end at 7 a.m.This is due to regularly scheduled painting of the pedestrian bridge spanning the roadways between Parking Structure 5 and Terminal 5.

  While not an LAX Modernization project, motorists are reminded of nightly lane restrictions in the Sepulveda Tunnel near LAX from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.  This $3.5-million retrofit of all the lighting in the tunnel is expected to be completed June 30, 2013.

  Pedestrians are advised that crosswalk closures are still in effect on a continuous, 24/7 basis at the following locations:

• Lower/Arrivals Level between TBIT and Parking Structure 4, through mid-March 2013
• Lower/Arrival Level Center Way between Parking Structures 2 and 5, through February 12, 2013

Sidewalk closures are still in effect on a continuous, 24/7 basis at the following locations: 

• Lower/Arrivals Level along Center Way North between West Way to Parking Structure 2, through November 2013
• Lower/Arrivals Level sidewalk and planters along the northwest corner of Parking Structure 3, through March 8, 2013
• Lower/Arrivals Level on World Way along the east side of Parking Structure 4, through mid-March 2013
• Lower/Arrivals Level between the north and middle entrances to TBIT and the sidewalk extension in front of TBIT, through March 2013
• Upper/Departures Level north entrance to TBIT, through March 2013
• The above temporary roadway lane restrictions and sidewalk closures are primarily due to ongoing construction of the Elevator, Escalator and Moving Walkway Modernization; the CTA Curbside Appeal; and the Central Utility Plant Replacement projects.

            The Elevator, Escalator and Moving Walkway Modernization Project is a $270-million, seven-year effort that began in 2009 to replace 212 units in front of TBIT and throughout the entire Central Terminal Area (terminals, parking structures, and other buildings).  Phase 1, comprised of 48 units determined to be most in need of replacement/refurbishment, is completed.  Phase 2, comprised of 70 units, is underway with several units already completed.  Phase 3, comprised of the remaining 94 units, is scheduled to be completed in 2016.  Benefits include more efficient and reliable conveyances to help travelers reach boarding gates and baggage claim areas quickly and smoothly.  The state-of-the-art units are designed with energy-saving, sustainable technology.  

The $43-million Curbside Appeal Project continues with construction of modern glass canopies in front of TBIT and preparation for installation of dramatic LED (light-emitting diode) light bands and art-deco light poles similar to the iconic LAX Gateway pylons.  The new lights and canopies will extend the entire length of the horseshoe-shaped curb between Terminals 1 and 7/8.  The LED lights are estimated to last 10 years for significant cost savings. 

Also under construction is the $438-million Central Utility Plant (CUP) Replacement Project that will increase capacity for air conditioning, heating, and lighting of the Theme Building, airport administration buildings, and airline terminals, including the New Tom Bradley International Terminal.  Scheduled for completion in 2014, the new highly-efficient, state-of-the-art, computer-operated facility will replace the current 50-year-old CUP.  Benefits include enhanced passenger comfort and public safety, reliability of utility service, and energy cost savings.

Renovations inside some of the airline terminals also are underway:

• Terminal 1:Upgrades to the fire/life safety equipment have been tested successfully, as well as improvements to the flight information display screens.Southwest Airlines will soon begin a $400-milllion renovation of the entire terminal.
• Terminal 2:Upgrades to the fire/life safety equipment also are completed.Renovation of the Upper/Departures Level corridor between Terminals 2 and 3 is in the final phase, requiring passengers to be rerouted to the sidewalk.
• Terminal 4:American Airlines is upgrading its flight information display systems and improving passenger amenities in the American Eagle remote-gate facility.
• Terminal 5:Delta Airlines is upgrading its passenger boarding bridges, remodeling its Sky Club lounge, and reconfiguring elevators and escalators in its meet-and-greet lobby.

            Up-to-date construction alerts can be found at www.lawa.org/laxdev/RoadAlerts.aspx and www.la-next.com.  Traffic alerts and current airport conditions also are posted on LAX’s social media sites at www.Facebook/com/LAInternationalAirport and www.Twitter.com/LAX_Official.  A construction hotline at (310) 6499-5292 also is available.  Real-time traffic conditions in airport surrounding areas is available at http://trafficinfo.lacity.org/html/lax.html.  

Airport officials are seeking the public’s help to reduce traffic congestion in and around LAX by encouraging passengers and motorists to: 

• Take public transportation to/from LAX, including the inexpensive and convenient LAX FlyAway® nonstop bus service at Union Station, Van Nuys and Westwood; and the Metro Rail Green Line.
• If picking up passengers, park your vehicle and wait inside the terminal or use the free LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at the intersection of 96th Street and Vicksburg Avenue, adjacent to the entrance of LAX Economy Parking Lot C.

About Los Angeles International Airport

            LAX is the sixth busiest airport in the world and third in the United States, offering more than 600 daily flights to 91 domestic cities and more than 1,000 weekly nonstop flights to 58 cities in 32 countries on nearly 75 air carriers.  It ranks 13th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed.  In 2011, LAX served nearly 62 million passengers, processed over 1.8 million tons of air cargo valued at nearly $84.6 billion, and handled 603,912 aircraft operations (landings and takeoffs).  LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports – along with LA/Ontario International and 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.