Los Angeles World Airports announced Wednesday that it has completed the first foundation work on its Automated People Mover project, a 2.25-mile elevated electric train system that will transport travelers in and out of Los Angeles International Airport’s Central Terminal Area.
The pile construction will form the foundation for the APM’s guideway and stations. The first piles for the East Station in the CTA and the Intermodal Transportation Facility West station off 96th Street were recently completed, officials said.
“The sheer size of these piles hints at the scale of what is to come, in terms of both LAX’s transformation and the heavy construction it will take to realize it,” said Bernardo Gogna, LAWA’s chief development officer. “The Automated People Mover is one of the most anticipated developments in LAX history, and we are excited to watch the project’s progression.”
The APM is scheduled to open in 2023, connecting travelers from the airport to the Los Angeles Metro’s regional transportation system and LAX’s future Consolidated Rent-A-Car Facility and other transportation facilities.
Earlier this year, LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS), the developer on the project, conducted advanced pile testing across the APM route to validate the final design and methodology for construction, airport officials said. More than 265 piles are expected to be installed along the APM route.
According to LAWA, The piles make the elevated design possible, interfacing with the columns to support and stabilize the guideway and stations. The piles are cast by pumping concrete into drilled holes containing steel reinforcement cages.
The diameter and depth of the piles vary based on design requirements, with the largest measuring up to 11 feet wide and some measure 99 feet deep, airport officials said.
The work will continue through fall 2020.
More information about the APM project is at www.flylax.com/connectinglax.