If you thought the crawl into LAX could not get any slower, buckle up. Los Angeles International Airport is set to restrict lanes and temporarily close parts of Sepulveda Boulevard in mid-July while crews install a new pedestrian bridge at the Sepulveda/Century intersection. Nightly work is set for July 13-17 from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., with intermittent traffic breaks of about 20 minutes between midnight and 4:00 a.m., and a full northbound closure scheduled from 1:00 a.m. July 18 through 4:00 a.m. July 19. Up to four southbound lanes may be closed during the overnight work, and drivers should expect detours, active flaggers and delays near the airport. Travelers are advised to build extra time into trips to or from LAX on those dates.
Schedule and detours
According to Los Angeles World Airports, crews will restrict southbound Sepulveda between Century Boulevard and 96th Street nightly July 13-17, with intermittent traffic breaks expected to be about 20 minutes each. The agency advisory includes detour maps, suggested alternate routes and signage to guide drivers around the work zone. For the second phase, LAWA says northbound Sepulveda between Century and 98th Street will be fully closed from 1:00 a.m. July 18 through 4:00 a.m. July 19, while certain ramps into the airport will remain open to preserve terminal access. Flaggers, LADOT traffic officers and other on-site personnel will be posted along detour routes to help manage traffic flow.
Why it is happening
The closures are part of the Airfield and Terminal Modernization Program's (ATMP) roadway improvements, which will add elevated crossings and reconfigure traffic around LAX to separate airport-bound and neighborhood traffic. As reported by MyNewsLA, Mike Christensen, LAWA's chief airports development officer, called the ATMP "one of the most ambitious transportation projects in our city," saying the temporary disruptions will help deliver a bridge that improves pedestrian safety and terminal access. LAWA also says the July schedule was chosen to avoid major local events, noting the work follows the World Cup quarterfinal at SoFi Stadium on July 10.
Project scope and timeline
Per Los Angeles World Airports, the ATMP Roadways component will reconfigure roughly 4.4 miles of roads around the airport and is expected to require intermittent closures through 2030, with some ingress elements prioritized ahead of the 2028 Olympics. LAWA communications point to an ATMP newsletter and a construction hotline for weekly updates, and the agency recommends drivers consult the live LAX traffic map at flyLAX.com for real-time congestion and drive-time estimates. The work ties into the Automated People Mover and other terminal modernization efforts that will change how people approach and exit the airport campus.
How travelers and drivers should plan
Motorists should allow extra time, follow posted detour signage and be prepared for overnight noise and temporary sidewalk changes near the work zone. Travelers to LAX were encouraged to arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights, as reported by MyNewsLA. Ride-hail, shuttle and delivery services may be routed to alternate staging areas during closures, and LAWA's construction hotline and ATMP Roadways page list contacts for businesses and residents with questions. Locals should watch for temporary signage and traffic officer directions while crews complete the overnight bridge installation.
