Skanska completes $380M LAX roadways and utilities project

Skanska has completed a $380 million roadway and utility project at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), according to an announcement shared with Construction Dive.

The Los Angeles World Airports Roadways, Utilities and Enabling (RUE) project improved public transportation access at LAX and connects four adjacent projects to reduce congestion and assist travelers at one of the world's busiest airports, per the July 22 announcement.

Project Overview

The RUE project consisted of 16 small yet high-priority initiatives essential to LAX's $5.5 billion Landside Access Modernization Program, which includes the SkyLink (formerly the Automated People Mover), a rental car center, and parking facilities, according to the LAWA website. Construction began in November 2020 and involved utility relocation and roadway improvements.

Key project deliverables include:

• Approximately 365,000 square feet of street paving around the airport and surrounding transportation network
• 8 lane-miles of pavement striping and roadway signage
• 1.5 miles of bike lanes

Skanska USA Civil, the American infrastructure arm of the Stockholm-based builder, completed the work in May. The firm has since released a case study highlighting its diverse business enterprise outreach.

Small Business Participation Targets

Skanska reported surpassing all goals for small and local business participation across multiple categories:

| Category | Award Amount | Percentage of Total | Goal | |---|---|---|---| | Small business enterprises (139 firms) | $91 million | 24% | 20% | | Local business enterprises (52 firms) | $89.7 million | 24% | 7% | | Local small business enterprises (40 firms) | $44.2 million | 12% | 3% | | Disabled veteran business enterprises (19 firms) | $18.8 million | 5% | 3% |

In total, Skanska contracted 152 certified suppliers and subcontractors for 170 contracts worth more than $160.5 million. The higher number of contracts reflects businesses working for multiple firms, depending on the tier at which they were hired.

"When local businesses are given a real opportunity, the benefits extend far beyond the jobsite," said Teresa Maxwell, inclusion manager at Skanska USA Civil West, in the release. "That kind of success is exactly what makes infrastructure for Los Angeles more resilient, more representative, and more impactful."

Outreach and Partnerships

Skanska's case study attributes exceeding these goals to active and frequent outreach, including:

• 368 events and trainings
• 1,790 firms invited to bid on work

These efforts were made possible through partnerships with trade groups such as the National Association of Women in Construction and the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC).

"True inclusion doesn't just check a box—it elevates the quality of the project, strengthens the workforce, and creates lasting impact for the communities within the Airport Impact Area at LAX," said Traci Watson, NAMC SoCal president, in the case study.

Community Outreach Programs

As part of the LAWA RUE project, Skanska supported the HireLAX apprenticeship readiness program.

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