Construction Delays at Los Angeles International Airport Causes Major Traffic

Since 2023, the Los Angeles International Airport has been gradually modernizing. However, construction delays have generated significant traffic congestion for travelers.

(Photo : Unsplash/Juho S )

Significant Traffic at Los Angeles International Airport 

On Friday, Mar. 15, officials announced that until 7 am on Sunday, Mar. 17, the eastbound and westbound lanes of Century Boulevard between Sepulveda and Airport Boulevards and between Airport Boulevard and Vicksburg Avenue would be temporarily closed overnight for maintenance work for the airport's Automated People Mover. However, they mentioned that specific dates and hours can be subject to modification.

On that Sunday, at 12:47 pm, airport officials reported that increased traffic congestion had resulted from construction delays on EB and WB Century Boulevards near LAX. Nevertheless, the Los Angeles Airport Police Department, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, and flaggers are all there to assist with airport entry. Certain flight times may be affected. 

Moreover, shortly after three o'clock on that day, the airport announced that regular traffic and lane layouts had been restored in the vicinity of LAX. Yet, specific flight timings may be affected due to the preceding traffic congestion. According to Pablo Gomez, an Uber driver, one of several people stopped in the massive traffic that stretched from Sepulveda Boulevard to the airport terminals. Traffic was usually horrible there, but the construction delays were on another level.

Also Read: 6 Types of Heavy Equipment and Their Dynamic Roles in Construction

Modernization of the Airport

LAX is undergoing a multibillion-dollar modernization initiative under the direction of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). Accordingly, this airport's modernization is widely regarded as the most extensive public works program in Los Angeles' history. The program, as a whole, is anticipated to generate more than 121,000 construction-related employment annually. 

Construction is underway on a project that will significantly enhance passengers' experience at Terminal 6. The project reportedly involves replacing passenger boarding bridges and comprehensively refurbishing the gate areas and lounges, and it is anticipated to be finished in 2024.

Additionally, airport passengers will have options that provide a first-class, speedy, convenient, and dependable means of accessing LAX thanks to the Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP), estimated to cost several billions of dollars. Among the components of the program are:

• The Automated People Mover (APM).

• Six new APM stations.

• A Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRAC) facility.

• Enhancements to the Central Terminal Area.

• A connection to the Los Angeles Metro system.

These initiatives, when combined, will ensure that LAX continues to be a world-class airport while reducing traffic congestion and enhancing the travel experience for millions of passengers. Furthermore, upgrades will be made to the airfield, terminal, and landside as part of the Airfield & Terminal Modernization Project (ATMP), a series of initiatives that will cost multiple billions of dollars. 

A portion of the project will be completed before the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028. In 2024, the second phase of the Terminal 4/5 project is also planned to be finished with the inauguration of the new Terminal 4 Headhouse. This new terminal will include a streamlined security screening checkpoint, new booking desks, and baggage collection carousels for American Airlines.

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