Workers have begun dismantling the 15 illuminated pylons that have greeted visitors to Los Angeles International Airport since 2000, clearing the path for a sweeping roadway overhaul designed to separate airport traffic from neighborhood drivers and ease congestion ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
At a Glance
- 15 of 26 iconic LAX pylons are being removed this month along Century Boulevard
- The $2.3 billion Airfield and Terminal Modernization Program will reconfigure 4.4 miles of roads
- Elevated ingress routes target completion before the 2028 Olympics; full egress finish set for 2030
- Why it matters: The redesign promises faster, safer access for an airport that has welcomed 1.2 billion passengers since the pylons first lit up 24 years ago
Ring of Light Comes Down
Crews started unbolting the 25- to 100-foot towers in early January, erasing one of L.A.’s most photographed landmarks. The ring of 15 pylons-part of a larger installation that once stretched 1.5 miles-had already lost several siblings to the Automated People Mover project. Now the remaining towers are making way for cranes and concrete as Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) reconfigures every major approach to the terminals.
The Roadmap to 2028
LAWA’s Airfield and Terminal Modernization Program Roadway Improvements Project will:
- Separate airport-bound traffic from local neighborhood drivers
- Build elevated ingress and egress systems
- Reduce congestion on Century Boulevard and surrounding streets
- Improve pedestrian crossings and vehicle flow
Officials say the elevated roadways will give travelers direct, grade-separated routes into the central terminal area while keeping community streets clear. The phased schedule targets completion of inbound routes before athletes and spectators flood the airport for the 2028 Summer Games; outbound roads will wrap two years later.
A Symbol Since 2000
“Since their installation in 2000, the iconic LAX pylons have stood as a vibrant symbol of LAX and Los Angeles, welcoming more than 1.2 billion visitors from around the world,” said Michael Christensen, LAWA’s chief airport development officer.
The LED-lit columns changed colors nightly, bathing arriving passengers in waves of blue, purple, and gold. Their removal marks the end of an era, but Christensen says the airport will “reimagine their design during this exciting new chapter in LAX’s transformation.”
Construction Timeline
| Milestone | Target Date |
|---|---|
| Ingress roadways open | Summer 2028 |
| Egress roadways complete | 2030 |
| Pylon dismantling | Underway |
| Full project finish | 2030 |
What Travelers Will See Next
For the next four years, Century Boulevard will be a maze of barriers, detours, and steel girders. LAWA promises real-time updates on lane closures and alternate routes. Once finished, the airport says drivers will experience:
- Fewer stop-and-go intersections
- Dedicated ramps into parking structures
- Safer sidewalks for passengers hauling luggage
- Clear separation between local traffic and airport traffic
The pylons’ fate after removal remains undecided. Officials have not disclosed whether the towers will be stored, sold, or scrapped, but they confirmed the airport will explore a new artistic gateway befitting a modernized LAX.
Key Takeaways
- The 15 pylons are gone for good-removal began in early January and will finish within weeks
- A 4.4-mile roadway reconfiguration aims to untangle one of the nation’s most congested airport approaches
- Elevated ingress routes must open before the 2028 Olympics; full system completion set for 2030
- LAWA pledges a new, yet-to-be-designed landmark will eventually replace the lost ring of light
