LAX MODERNIZATION UPDATE: HELLO 2017: NEW YEAR MEANS CHANGES ON THE ROADWAYS AND IN THE TERMINALS

12/30/2016 12:00 AM

LAX MODERNIZATION UPDATE:
HELLO 2017: NEW YEAR MEANS CHANGES ON THE ROADWAYS AND IN THE TERMINALS

(Los Angeles, California – December 30, 2016)  With a new year on the horizon, it’s time to look ahead at what will be a busy 2017 in and near Los Angeles International Airport.  After the construction moratorium ends on January 4, contractors will be back in full swing on a $14 billion modernization in which more than $3 million is spent each day on more than two dozen major construction projects.  The improvements will result in a modern airport that significantly enhances the overall guest experience for the modern traveler.  Passengers using LAX in January will need to plan ahead to navigate sidewalk and vehicle lane closures and in-terminal work.  Construction alerts showing Central Terminal Area (CTA) roadway lane restrictions and sidewalk closures, as well as a pedestrian walking map and helpful airline terminal finder, LAX is also on Waze, the community-based traffic reporting app, to provide real-time traffic status in and around the CTA.  

 

Roadway Impacts in and near the CTA:  

  • Portions of the drop-off lane on the Upper/Departures Level in front of Terminal 1 are closed until March 2017 as part of Southwest Airlines’ renovation project.  During busy travel times such as early morning and midday, passenger drop-off causes traffic backups on the roads leading into the CTA, affecting access to all other terminals.  Drivers may find it easier to drop off passengers between Terminals 1 and 2.  The entire drop-off lane is closed weeknights from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. while a canopy is constructed over the sidewalk.  To avoid traffic congestion at LAX from early morning to 2 p.m., motorists are asked to use the Lower/Arrivals Level to drop off passengers, who can take elevators, escalators or stairs up to the departures level.
  • Installation of a closed-circuit television system will close a portion of the drop-off lane nightly at three taxi stands in the area of Terminals 2 and 3.
  • Rotating lane closures on the Lower/Arrivals Level may occur overnight into the early afternoon hours.  The leftmost lane on the Lower/Arrivals Level, adjacent to Parking Structure 3, is closed most weekdays from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. for landscaping.
  • Redevelopment of Terminal 7 has closed a 135-foot section of the passenger drop-off area on the Upper/Departures Level, which will remain in place through April 2017.
  • Lanes on Center Way and Theme Way may be restricted overnight to install electrical lines for Delta’s temporary construction trailer complex in the former parking lot across from Terminal 6.
  • A change to single-level busing for hotel shuttles (Lower/Arrival Level only) and private parking shuttles/Lot C buses (Upper/Arrivals Level only) slated for January 23 may change some traffic patterns.
  • Eastbound Century Boulevard is reduced from three lanes to one lane between La Cienega Boulevard and Felton Lane, including under the Interstate 405 overpass, as part of Inglewood’s Century Boulevard Mobility Improvements Project, potentially impacting traffic leaving LAX for northbound I-405. The work will continue into March 2017.

 

Terminal Construction/Renovation :

  • Terminal 1:   Phase 2 of Southwest Airlines’ $509-million Terminal 1 Renovation Project continues in the eastern part of the terminal, including the former check-in lobby, with barricades in place.  The pedestrian bridge connecting Parking Structure 1 and the terminal is closed, with signs placed to direct passengers.  The restrooms on the ticketing level have been temporarily replaced by unisex restrooms on the western side of the lobby.  Passengers may also use restrooms located on the Lower/Arrivals Level or in the terminal beyond passenger security screening.  A new, covered skycap baggage check-in area opened on the west side of the terminal.  Gate 17B will reopen in late January, at which time Gate 16A will close for renovations.  Gates 16B, 18A and 18B are also closed. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (near Gate 13) and Nektar Juice Bar (in the waiting area near Gate 14A) have opened.  Work continues in the food court area.  Westfield is phasing in new concessions, with a total of 24 to be installed through 2017. 
  • Terminal 2:  Remodeling work is almost completed in the ticketing lobby as Los Angeles World Airports wraps up its $332-million Terminal 2 Modernization Project.  An electrical upgrade and tile work are still in progress. Gate 27 will close for renovations in January.
  • Terminal 3:   Gate 31B will close for renovations in January.
  • Terminal 4:   American Airlines’ Admirals Club is being renovated, with expected completion this summer.  Renovation of the Food Court continues through January, while refurbishment in other areas of the terminal, including the ticketing lobby, baggage claim and the waiting areas at the gates, will continue through March.  A new Automated Screening Lane (ASL) is scheduled to be installed at the Security Screening Check Point in the first quarter of 2017 to reduce wait times.
  • Terminal 5:  American Airlines is scheduled to relocate its four gates now in Terminal 6 to Terminal 5 at the end of January.  Terminal 5 is adjacent to the American hub in Terminal 4, improving operations and the customer experience. 
  • Terminal 6:  Gates 68 and 69B will close for renovations in January.
  • Terminals 7/8:  United Airlines is continuing work on its $573-million Terminal 7/8 Renovation Project scheduled for completion in early 2018.  Two additional lanes opened in the new Security Screening Check Point, which now includes five ASL lanes on the Upper/Departures Level.  Each automated lane is processing 25 to 35 percent more passengers hourly than a standard lane.  The checkpoint at the bridge level is permanently closed.  The bridge from Parking Structure 7 is closed through May 2017 for elevator demolition and construction – access to the parking structure is available on the Lower/Arrivals Level.  Two new elevators are being constructed near the bridge, and expected to open in May.  Gates 72 and 80 are closed for renovations, while Gate 75A will close in January. A new women’s restroom has opened near Gate 71B.  A new water bottle filling station has been installed along with the water fountain near this location.  Work continues on a new Baggage Carousel 1, with temporary walls in place.  The United Baggage Service office is in a temporary location near the new restrooms on the west end of the baggage claim area, and must be accessed from the street.  Terminals 7 and 8 can be reached using East Way, a short-cut between the northside and southside terminals that eliminates the need to travel around the entire Central Terminal Area.

 

Sidewalk/Walkway/Parking Structure Restrictions and Closures :

  • As part of the Terminal 1 Renovation Project, portions of the sidewalk on the Upper/Departures Level will be closed through 2017 with pedestrians routed around barricades.
  • Upgrades to the elevators in the east tower at Parking Structure 1 will close a portion of the sidewalk on the Lower/Arrivals Level through February 2017.
  • Portions of  the sidewalk at Terminals 2 and 3 on the Lower/Arrivals Level are restricted overnight while electrical conduit is installed.
  • Work on the west side elevators at Parking Structure 3 has temporarily closed a portion of the sidewalk.  A detour leads passengers safely to the crosswalk to reach Terminal 3.  Signs are also posted to direct passengers to other elevators in the parking structure.
  • Work to install security bollards on the Upper/Departures Level will close portions of the sidewalk in front of Terminals 3, 5 and 6.  An ADA-compliant path of travel will be maintained at all times.
  • The crosswalk between Parking Structure 3 and TBIT on the Lower/Arrivals Level will be closed through January.  Alternative routes across World Way include the crosswalk between the parking structure and Terminal 3, the Upper/Departures Level crosswalk between the structure and TBIT, and the crosswalk from the charter bus parking area south of the parking structure.
  • Landscaping around Parking Structures 3 and 4 may result in sidewalk restrictions.  Signs will be posted when necessary.
  • A blast fence is being installed at the heliport on top of Parking Structure 4, reducing the number of parking stalls on Levels 4 and 5, and occasionally requiring closure of the ramp between Levels 3 and 4.  The work will continue through February, from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
  • The two elevators in the east tower of Parking Structure 4 are out of service through April, while upgrades are performed.  Two other pairs of elevators remain in service. 
  • One elevator will remain available while upgrades to the elevator tower in Parking Structure 5 continue through January.  The sidewalk adjacent to the elevator tower is closed.
  • The elevators on the west side of Parking Structure 7 are closed through April, with passengers directed to the recently renovated elevators on the east side of the structure. The adjacent sidewalk on East Way and World Way is also closed.  
  • Pedestrians are routed to a bump-out sidewalk on the Upper/Departures Level at Terminal 7 while the sidewalk is widened.  A 175-foot-long barricade exists along the easternmost sidewalk on the Upper/Departures Level of Terminals 7/8 through 2017. 

 

Please note that all dates provided in this notice are subject to change.

            Airport officials are asking motorists to help reduce traffic congestion in and around LAX by taking shared-ride public transportation to and from LAX, including the inexpensive and convenient FlyAway® bus service to and from Hollywood, Long Beach, Metro Orange Line Bus stop (in San Fernando Valley), Union Station, Van Nuys and Westwood.  If picking up passengers, motorists are encouraged to park and wait at the free LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot at the intersection of 96th Street and Vicksburg Avenue, next to the entrance of LAX Economy Parking Lot C.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX is the seventh busiest airport in the world and third in the United States.  LAX served more than 74.9 million passengers in 2015.  LAX offers 742 daily nonstop flights to 101 cities in the U.S. and 1,273 weekly nonstop flights to 76 cities in 41 countries on 64 commercial air carriers.  LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.1 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion.  LAX handled 655,564 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2015. 

An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,610 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion.  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, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.

 

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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