LAX Successfully Installs Steel Structure For First Automated People Mover Pedestrian Bridge

Flatiron is proud to be part of the team creating the Automated People Mover at Los Angeles International Airport. A key milestone in the construction of the first elevated pedestrian bridge has been achieved, marking another important step in this innovative project. This news release was issued by the project owner, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).

(Los Angeles, CA) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) today announced the successful placement of four steel trusses over World Way, kicking off construction of an elevated pedestrian walkway that will eventually connect Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) Terminal 4 to the West Central Terminal Area (CTA) Automated People Mover (APM) station.

Over the course of four evenings, partially pre-fabricated steel trusses, ranging in weight from 60,000 to 100,000 pounds, were transported to the LAX terminal area and then assembled and lifted into place with a 350-ton crane. The segments were welded together while supported over the roadway by a shoring tower. The installation of floor and roof beams has now begun, which will complete the erection of structural steel for the pedestrian walkway. In total, six bridges will be installed over World Way.

“As we advance our modernization projects and take our place as a world-class airport, it is also important to honor LAX’s rich architectural history through our design and construction, and our new bridges will do just that,” said Bernardo Gogna, Chief Development Officer, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). “The successful placement of the bridge structure was due to a highly-coordinated effort, and I share my thanks with our Development and Operations teams, airline stakeholders, the LINXS Constructors team, and Airport Police Division, including the Traffic and Security Officers, for ensuring a safe and efficient completion of this first of several bridge installations.”

Due to specific engineering and aesthetic design requirements, an uncommon design called the Vierendeel Truss was selected. A Vierendeel Truss is constructed out of horizontal and vertical support elements, eliminating the need for diagonal supports. As a result, the walkway will feature a streamlined profile and clean lines consistent with the principles of mid-century modern design and LAX’s architectural legacy, helping to maintain visual continuity at the airport.

Once all of the structural steel is in place, a suspended scaffolding system will be installed to facilitate placement of the concrete floor and the installation of metal panels and glazing. Composed of multiple sections, which can be raised and lowered as needed, the suspended scaffolding system eliminates the need for traditional scaffolding that would need to be staged in the roadway. By installing the suspended scaffolding in sections, work can progress on one section at a time, resulting in less impactful lane closures in the busy terminal area.

“The start of construction of this pedestrian walkway follows a tremendous amount of enabling work, planning and coordination,” said Sharon Gookin, Project Director at LINXS Constructors. “Having these steel trusses in place serves as a meaningful milestone for the APM project and a testament to the continued efforts of the APM team to bring the vision of a transformed LAX to fruition.”

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

The centerpiece of LAWA’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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