A major infrastructure effort is moving forward at Los Angeles International Airport as preparations ramp up for the 2028 Summer Olympics. A joint venture between Skanska and FlatironDragados has officially begun work on a $323 million contract to redesign key roadway corridors that connect passengers, commuters and airport facilities.
This is the first construction phase of a multiyear modernization effort under LAX’s broader $1.5 billion Roadway Improvements Project, part of the Airfield and Terminal Modernization Program led by Los Angeles World Airports.
FlatironDragados said in its release that, with this award, the joint venture has now secured a total of $604 million in preconstruction and construction responsibilities across the project.
According to the official fact sheet, the plan calls for the replacement and reconfiguration of 4.4 miles of roadway. The improvements aim to relieve bottlenecks on Sepulveda Boulevard by removing as many as 500 cars from the corridor at any given time. Dedicated airport routes will lead directly into the Central Terminal Area, while traffic signals, intersections and pedestrian access points will be modernized.
The design also includes protected pedestrian bridges, clearer wayfinding systems and enhanced safety features to streamline mobility for both visitors and employees.
Preconstruction activities were already underway as of August, according to airport planning documents.
Skanska USA Civil executive vice president James Bailey underscored the scale and complexity of the work, saying:
“From detailed designs of more than four miles of reconfigured roadway to bridge construction and modifications to traffic signals, the delivery of this lasting infrastructure will change the way people get to and from LAX.”
FlatironDragados executive vice president Dale Nelson added that the benefits will extend well beyond the airport itself:
“Our work will not only support the airport’s modernization, but benefit local residents and communities by reducing congestion, improving safety, and leaving behind infrastructure for the region well beyond the Olympics.”
The contract is part of a broader wave of airport construction across the country. Just last week, a Turner Construction and FlatironDragados JV completed Phase 1 of a $3 billion terminal project at San Diego International Airport.
Other recent aviation infrastructure milestones include:
Phase One of the new LAX roadway contract is expected to be completed by Q4 of 2026, according to Skanska. However, in anticipation of the Olympic Games, some construction on ingress routes will be paused in July 2028 and then restarted once the event concludes. The full completion date is projected for mid-2030.
The upgrades signal both a regional transportation investment and a strategic push to prepare Los Angeles for the global stage in 2028.
Originally reported by Joe Bousquin in Construction Dive.
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