Fluor Corporation’s joint venture team, LINXS Constructors – comprised of Fluor, Balfour Beatty, Dragados USA and Flatiron – has completed construction of Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM) train guideway structure for Los Angeles World Airports.
The guideway is the latest construction milestone for the $4.9 billion mega infrastructure project, which is scheduled for completion in 2023. The centerpiece of LAX’s Landside Access Modernization Program, the APM, is a 2.25-mile electric train system that will feature six stations: three stations inside the central terminal area that connect to the terminals via elevated pedestrian walkways and three stations outside the central terminal area that connect to new off-site parking facilities, regional light rail and a rental car facility.
“The Automated People Mover project is a critical investment for Los Angeles’ infrastructure as the city prepares to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Thomas Nilsson, president of Fluor’s Infrastructure business. “This is a logistically-challenging project that requires close coordination with numerous public and private entities.”
In May, crews will continue work on several projects related to the APM, including construction of several elevated bridges that will connect terminals to future stations. A temporary support for the newest bridge will reduce lanes near Terminals 5 and 6 through mid-May, and overnight work is taking place throughout the Central Terminal Area.
Construction also is taking place on the stations along the 2.25-mile route, as well as terminal modernization and other projects in the Central Terminal Area. Work continues on station and pedestrian bridge construction. Crews have begun the installation of structural steel for the station canopy at the Center Central Terminal Area Station.
“The Automated People Mover will be so much more than another way to get to LAX. It is the piece of the puzzle that will end the congestion that has been plaguing our airport for decades,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “This project is a historic investment in our city’s transportation future, and today’s milestone brings us another step closer to our ultimate goal of bringing modern, reliable public transportation to our airport.”
Justin Erbacci, CEO, Los Angeles World Airports added, “Los Angeles no longer has to imagine a transformed LAX. Rather, we can see the future through our own eyes with the completion of the 2.25 miles of Automated People Mover guideway that will one day soon carry train cars filled with travelers and employees.
“Over the last two-and-a-half years, we have seen the guideway rise up from its foundation to become a fully completed track, providing us a glimpse at what will provide time-guaranteed access to the airport, ensuring greater mobility for all of those coming to and from LAX.”
Guideway construction began in November 2019 with the first underground support columns being placed, followed by the first concrete column pours in January 2020 and the first guideway segment pour in September 2020. A total of 69,700-cubic yards of concrete were poured since 2019 to complete the structure, along with more than one million work hours.
“The completion of the guideway structure is a remarkable milestone for the project as we are one step closer to realizing a new transportation experience at one of the world's busiest airports,” said Sam Choy, project director at LINXS Constructors. “We will soon leverage this accomplishment with train car testing later this year.”
