California Construction News staff writer
The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved $1 billion in additional funding Friday for the final phase of the Airfield and Terminal Modernization Program (ATMP) Roadway Improvement Project at Los Angeles International Airport.
Skanska-Flatiron Joint Venture (SFJV) is serving as the design-builder for the final phase of the project.
The project, part of Los Angeles World Airports’ $30 billion capital improvement program, will reconfigure 4.4 miles of roadways to better manage airport and neighborhood traffic entering, exiting, and surrounding LAX.
“The ATMP Roadway project is one of the most significant investments made to improve traffic in and around LAX,” said BOAC President Karim Webb. “We’re prioritizing both guests and the surrounding community by separating airport traffic from local traffic, reducing congestion and enhancing pedestrian safety throughout the area.”
The final construction package will include reconfigured roadways, bridges, retaining walls, drainage systems, utility relocations, landscaping, lighting, signage, and intelligent transportation systems. Work on airport ingress roadways is expected to be finished ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, with egress roadways scheduled for completion by 2030.
“This project will make traveling through LAX smoother and safer,” said John Ackerman, CEO of LAWA. “It’s about creating an elevated experience for our guests, team members and the local community, and we are doing it in a way that will bring millions of dollars in economic benefit to local businesses and workers.”
The ATMP Roadway project is the most comprehensive roadway effort at LAX in nearly four decades. It aims to separate airport traffic from local roads, reduce congestion, and improve access to terminals. Key features include:
- reconfiguring 4.4 miles of roadways, with a net increase of about 1/4 mile.
- removing over 500 cars from Sepulveda Boulevard at any given time.
- adding protected pedestrian bridges and a multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists.
- integrating with LAX’s new Automated People Mover, Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility, and auxiliary curbs.
The project also emphasizes workforce development and local hiring. The Skanska-Flatiron Joint Venture, the project’s design-builder, is required to have at least 30% of work hours performed by local workers. Current local hire stands at 50.2%, totaling 27,684 hours.
Since 2019, LAWA has conducted extensive outreach, including over 150 stakeholder meetings and multiple public meetings under the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act. The final Environmental Impact Report was certified in 2021.
Supporters of the project include the Westchester Playa Neighborhood Council, Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association, LAX Coastal Chamber, LA Conservancy, Gateway LA Business Improvement District, Flight Path Museum at LAX, and several Rotary Clubs that say the improvements will reduce congestion, enhance safety, and modernize access to LAX.
