LAX MODERNIZATION UPDATE: ACCESS TO TOM BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL IMPACTED BY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Los Angeles, 2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Construction continues on several 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 closures of both crosswalks on the Lower/Arrivals Level from Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) to Parking Structures 3 and 4.  Visitors and travelers should look for and follow the comprehensive way-finding signage to ensure their safety and accessibility to TBIT.  Pedestrians will be directed to the north crosswalk at Parking Structure 3 leading to Terminal 3, where way-finding signage will guide the public to TBIT.  Likewise, the south crosswalk at Parking Structure 4 leading to Terminal 4 will lead pedestrians to and from TBIT.  The crosswalk closures on the Lower/Arrivals Level will be in effect through mid-March.

On the Upper/Departures Level, crosswalks from Parking Structures 3 and 4 to TBIT remain open.  However, the west elevator at Parking Structure 4 is currently closed.  Pedestrians will be directed to use the north elevator to Level 3 and follow the signs to TBIT.  For a detailed map please visit: http://www.lawa.org/uploadedFiles/LAXDev/Alert_Travelers/PedestrianWayfinding_P3%20and%20P4_NoLogos.pdf

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/Arrivals and Upper/Departures levels 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. This work is being performed by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting.

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 elevators, escalators and moving walkways to convey travelers quickly and smoothly to boarding gates and baggage claim areas.  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, as well as preparatory work to install dramatic LED (light-emitting diode) light bands and art-deco light poles similar to the lighting program of the iconic LAX Gateway pylons.  The new lighting 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 provide additional capacity for air conditioning, heating, and lighting of the LAX 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 its 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 arrivals (meet-and-greet) lobby.
• Up-to-date construction alerts showing Central Terminal Area roadway lane restrictions and sidewalk closures can be found at http://www.lawa.org/laxdev/RoadAlerts.aspxand and www.la-next.com.

Traffic alerts and current airport conditions also are posted on LAX’s social media sites at Facebook/com/LAInternationalAirport and www.Twitter.com/LAX_Official.  A construction hotline at (310) 649-LAWA or (310) 649-5292 is also available.  Real-time traffic conditions in airport surrounding areas is available at http://trafficinfo.lacity.org/html/lax.html.

Airport officials are asking motorists to help reduce traffic congestion in and around LAX by considering the following:

• Take public transportation to/from LAX, including the inexpensive and convenient LAX FlyAway® nonstop bus service at Union Station, Van Nuys and Westwood.
• If picking up passengers, park your vehicle and wait inside the terminal or use the free LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lotat the intersection of 96^th 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 680 daily flights to 96 domestic cities and 930 weekly nonstop flights to 59 cities in 30 countries on 63 commercial air carriers. It ranks 13th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed. In 2012, LAX served nearly 63.7 million passengers, processed over 1.9 million tons of air cargo valued at nearly $89.6 billion, and handled 605,480 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.

For more information about LAX, please visit www.lawa.aero/lax or follow us on Twitter @LAX_Official, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport , and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1 .

Contact: Albert Rodriguez
(424) 646-5260

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