Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has announced that the final element of structural steel for Los Angeles International Airport’s (LAX) automated people mover (APM) project has now been successfully placed.
The final component of structural steel consisted of more than 180 tonnes of steel that was raised and set at the APM’s East Central Terminal Area (CTA) station, providing views of the airport’s upcoming Theme Building, which has been designed to resemble a landed flying saucer.
“Finishing the installation of the structural steel for our Automated People Mover project is another major step toward completion of this transformative transportation system. 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 tonnes of structural steel for the APM project:
- 3,600 tonnes for pedestrian walkways
- 1,800 tonnes at the West CTA station
- 1,050 tonnes at the East ITF station
- 930 tonnes at the East CTA station
- 800 tonnes at the West ITF station
- 590 tonnes at the Center CTA station
- 140 tonnes for the vertical cores
The installation of the final structural steel follows last month’s milestone of installing the last of six pedestrian bridges near the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
“The viewing pavilion is a major milestone for the APM as it marks the completion of the project's largest construction efforts. Both the pavilion and the six pedestrian bridges were successfully installed with close collaboration with LAWA's landside operations team.”
Once complete, the APM will be an electric train system on a 2.25 mile elevated guideway serving six stations.
LAX broke ground on the project in March of 2019 and anticipates that the system will be operational in 2023.
