LAX opens the Tom Bradley International Terminal’s new $1.73 billion West Gates
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Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) continues to enhance its infrastructure, this morning celebrating the opening of the $1.73 billion West Gates at the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
According to Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, the latest investment delivers a modern guest experience with cutting-edge technology, stunning architecture, a checked-bag storage system, biometric boarding gates and the latest amenities for travellers.
“LAX is our gateway to the world — a global crossroads where dreams take flight and where we welcome the future of our city with open arms,” said Garcetti.
“Completing the West Gates is the latest step in our unprecedented campaign to reimagine LAX — to help our airport realise its potential as a premier, 21st century destination, as a source of jobs and economic growth for local workers, and as a site of seamless travel for millions of passengers.”
The five-level, 15-gate, 750,000-square-foot facility, which will serve both international and domestic flights, marks the latest step in the airport’s $14.5 billion modernisation.
At nearly 1,700 feet in length, the West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal is located just west of the world-famous international terminal and was completed over the course of four-and-a-half years.
LAX operator, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), said that new gates were “designed around a modern, digitally based travel experience and offer numerous comfortable seating options, with thousands of places to plug in, while accessing next-generation wireless internet, touchscreen kiosks and the most advanced baggage handling and boarding systems of any airport in the United States today”.
Sean Burton, president, Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC), noted: “This project sets the standard for how to build better, providing meaningful work opportunities to local workers and small businesses, keeping sustainability at the heart of the project and focusing on providing the best passenger experience possible.
“More than 8,500 individuals, 30% of which came from the local community, had an integral role in building this state-of-the-art facility over the course of 1.4 million work hours.”
Nursing rooms, a service-animal relief area, art exhibitions, a quiet room and three children’s play areas are among The West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal.
“This is the first mega-project at LAX under the leadership and vision of Mayor Garcetti, working with our City Council and our Board, to build a world-class airport – one that will redefine our airport experience,” enthused LAWA CEO, Justin Erbacci.
“We are delivering fully modernised terminals, new technology and guest services, and improved connections to our regional transportation system and investing in infrastructure that creates a more resilient airport and an even stronger economic engine for Los Angeles.”
Construction began on the new gates in late 2016. A joint venture of Turner Construction and PCL Construction served as the contractor, in association with architects Corgan and Gensler.
The project also included over 1.5-million-square-feet-of new aircraft apron and taxiways/taxi-lanes, as well as new underground utility improvements.
The West Gates at Tom Bradley project was funded from LAX’s operating revenues, Capital Improvement Program funds, fees from airlines, passenger facility charges and airport revenue bond proceeds. No money was used from the city’s General Fund or taxpayers.
• Images courtesy of LAWA/Joshua Sudock.