Final Structural Steel for LAX Automated People Mover Project Installed Near Iconic Theme Building

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

On December 5, 2022, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) announced the successful placement of the final structural steel element on Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM) project.

The final structural steel creates the base for a new viewing pavilion near LAX’s iconic Theme Building, with more than 180 tons of steel raised and set at the APM’s East Central Terminal Area (CTA) station.

“Finishing the installation of the structural steel for our Automated People Mover project is another major step toward completion of this transformative transportation system,” said Justin Erbacci, Chief Executive Officer, LAWA. “It is fitting that the final steel will help create the viewing pavilion for the traveling public to enjoy a new, picturesque vista of our world-famous Theme Building, which we cannot wait to share with our guests.”

The team has now installed a total of 9,000 tons of structural steel on the APM project. The structural steel APM project is broken down as follows:

• Pedestrian walkways, 3,600 tons
• West CTA station, 1,800 tons
• East ITF station, 1,050 tons
• East CTA station, 930 tons
• West ITF station, 800 tons
• Center CTA station, 590 tons
• Vertical Cores, 140 tons

“The viewing pavilion is a major milestone for the APM as it marks the completion of the project’s largest construction efforts,” said Sam Choy, Project Director, LINXS Constructors. “Both the pavilion and the six pedestrian bridges were successfully installed with close collaboration with LAWA’s landside operations team.”

The APM pedestrian bridges over World Way are currently under varying stages of construction:

Terminal 4.5 to the West CTA station

Placed in June 2021, with decking, roofing, glass and metal panels complete
Currently installing electrical components and metal ceiling
Terminal 2 to the Center CTA station

Placed in September 2021, with decking, roofing, glass and metal panels complete
Currently installing the metal ceiling
Terminal 3 to the West CTA station

Placed in January 2022, with decking, roofing and glass complete
Currently installing electrical components, metal panels and metal ceiling
Terminal 1 Extension to the Center CTA station

Placed in March 2022, with decking, roofing, glass and metal panels complete
Currently installing electrical components and moving walkway
Terminal 5.5 to the Center CTA station

Placed in April 2022, with decking and roofing complete
Currently installing glass
Tom Bradley International Terminal to the West CTA station

Placed in September 2022, with decking and roofing in progress
Following the establishment of these spans over World Way, work also continues on their connections to the APM stations. These overhead walkways, which now border many CTA parking garages and the LAX Theme Building, are currently being fitted with decking and roofing elements. Similar operations on an additional walkway, located over the P7 parking garage, are scheduled to continue through Spring 2023. The structure will connect the East CTA station to the existing Terminal 7 pedestrian bridge.

The installation of the final structural steel follows last month’s milestone — the installation of the sixth and final pedestrian bridge near the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX, the fourth-busiest airport in the world and second busiest in the United States, was named a top-10 U.S. airport by SKYTRAX. LAX served more than 87.5 million passengers in 2018 and offers an average of 700 daily nonstop flights to 109 cities in the U.S. and 1,281 weekly nonstop flights to 93 markets in 47 countries on 69 commercial airlines. LAX ranks 10th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.4 million tons of air cargo. LAX handled 707,883 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2018.

LAX generated 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 was honored as having the “Best Overall Customer Service Program” by Airports Council International-North America; named the “Best Airport for Breastfeeding Moms” by Mamava; selected for the Top 10 “Best of the U.S.’s Big Airports” (Wall Street Journal) and “Most Pet-Friendly Airports in the U.S. (Mental Floss); named the second-most improved airport in the U.S. by JD Power; received an “Innovation Award” from the L.A. Better Business Challenge for its Central Utility Plant; and named a “Business Leader in Air Quality” by the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

LAX is also the second-most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram, according to wego.com. 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.

For more information about LAX, please visit www.flyLAX.com or follow on Twitter @flyLAXAirport, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport, and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1

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.