Los Angeles World Airports Taxiway Program

RS&H provided planning and design services to LAWA for a new taxiway to accommodate unimpeded flow between the North and South Airfields at LAX. The new taxiway also extends Taxiway D on the north side of the project for a future parallel taxiway extension. Design services included demolition of five buildings and/or relocation of existing facilities such as Remain Over Night parking, water deluge system, hangar facilities, airfield lighting vault, and other infrastructure to facilitate the construction of the taxiway.

Taxiway C-14 included 72,000 square yards of 19-inch depth concrete and 93,000 square yards of asphalt. A roadway underpass went through where the taxiway was to be built and went under an existing taxiway bridge and an existing vehicle service road. The underpass was closed and backfilled so there was no void left in the underpass, allowing construction of the taxiway slab to be built on grade across.

Electrical engineering was designated in three different areas: airfield electrical, which handled all taxiway lights and signage; site electrical, which required extensive coordination with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; and vault electrical for the reduction of the building.

Project complexities included utilizing 22 phases to ensure aircraft and airfield operation disruptions were minimized, at times working five- to six-hour intervals at night.

RS&H at work at LAX airfields program

LAX has long been an essential hub for travelers worldwide, and with over 88 million passengers passing through its gates in 2019, it stands as the United States’ second busiest airport. LAX has entrusted RS&H to spearhead transformative projects that are shaping the future of this iconic aviation gateway.

Since 2018, RS&H has been an instrumental partner, offering invaluable general consulting, architectural, and engineering expertise to LAX. As the primary international airport serving Los Angeles and its sprawling metropolitan area, LAX’s significance as a major international gateway cannot be overstated. RS&H’s contributions have ranged from runway reconstruction and taxiway construction to supporting tenant project approvals and coordinating airside and landside “open call” initiatives. Moreover, their pivotal role in the Landside Access Modernization Program (LAMP) has seen the design of cutting-edge roadways, utilities, and enabling projects, ushering in a new era of seamless airport connectivity.

This dynamic partnership has yielded impressive results, not only in terms of project scale but also in handling a diverse array of tasks simultaneously under aggressive timelines. With 34 completed tasks worth over $5.9 million, RS&H’s outstanding capabilities, resources, and performance have been unequivocally validated. As LAX continues to evolve and grow, these transformative projects will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact, further solidifying the airport’s status as a global aviation powerhouse.

RS&H was subsequently entrusted with the role of designer for the Crossfield Taxiway C14 project. The firm’s seamless integration of cross-disciplinary insights paved the way for a successful transition to the North Airfield Exit Taxiways project. This undertaking involved the construction of four new exit taxiways, replacing existing ones situated within the high-energy middle third of the North Airfield runway system, exemplifying RS&H’s unwavering commitment to safety.

Notably, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recognized the significance of RS&H’s contributions, underscoring the exceptional standard of safety and innovation exhibited in these projects.