Airport Tunnel (Los Angeles)

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Airport Tunnel (Sepulveda Boulevard Tunnel)

The Airport Tunnel is a road tunnel in Los Angeles that carries Sepulveda Boulevard under the two runways and taxiways on the south side of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It’s part of California State Route 1 and was the first tunnel in the United States built under an airport runway.

Why it was built
LAX needed to extend its runways, but Sepulveda Boulevard blocked the plan. To keep the road straight, engineers tunneled it under the runways and taxiways.

Construction and opening
Construction lasted from October 1949 to March 1953, and the tunnel opened on April 21, 1953. The project cost about $3.5 million (about $61 million today). The opening ceremony featured Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron, and the first 100 drivers through the tunnel received souvenirs.

Design and specs
- Length: 1,909 feet (about 582 meters)
- Width: 80 feet
- Lanes: 6 total (3 in each direction)
- Speed limit: 40 mph
- Clearance: about 15 feet (slightly higher in the southbound side)
- Start/End: near I-105 to near Century Boulevard
- Crosses under runways 25L/25R and nearby taxiways
- Part of California State Route 1 (Sepulveda Boulevard)

Ventilation and safety
- Two ventilation houses with four fans each to supply fresh air and remove exhaust
- A power substation for lights and fans
- Drainage system that pumps out rainwater from vaults
- Six turnout spaces inside the tunnel for breakdowns
- Lighting has been upgraded over time (1965 overhaul and LED upgrade in 2012)

Ownership
The tunnel is jointly owned by Caltrans and the City of Los Angeles.