NORTH AMERICA. Los Angeles city, airport and construction officials will take part in a ceremony at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) today to mark the groundbreaking of the gateway’s new US$1.6 billion concourse and baggage optimisation project.
The Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC)-North Gates facility, designed as an addition to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), will include 12 gates in the first phase of construction and will cover 750,000sq ft on five levels.
LAX’s new area will also house 44,000sq ft of dining and shopping options and 60,000sq ft of airline lounges as well as other guest services and amenities.
The commemorative ceremony will start at 8.30am local time, and will involve Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and city council members Bob Blumenfield and Mike Bonin.
Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Sean Burton and Los Angeles World Airports CEO Deborah Flint will also be in attendance.
The new facility will be connected to TBIT by two 1,000ft-long tunnels – one with moving walkways for passengers and the other for utilities.
Construction also includes a ‘Baggage Optimisation Project’ (BOP) covering an 85,000sq ft North Baggage Handling System structure with an 11,000sq ft tunnel on the north side of the facility and a 45,000sq ft tunnel on the east side for baggage conveyances.
Airport officials said the entire MSC-North Gates and BOP construction programme encompasses 1.052 million sq ft and it is expected to become operational in late 2019. MSC-South Gates is anticipated at a later date.
