Los Angeles Interstate 105 (I-105) Metro ExpressLanes is a major and crucial infrastructure initiative designed to improve mobility, connectivity and travel time reliability across the city’s vital east-west corridor.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) Express Lanes project is divided into three segments. Separated from general-purpose lanes, ExpressLanes use active management strategies, like dynamic toll pricing, to ensure free-flow and increase throughput of vehicles.

Stretching approximately 17 miles and serving nine Southern California cities, I-105 connects the suburbs and other freeways directly to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), making it a critical route for commuters, travelers and soon … 2028 Summer Olympics’ athletes, organizers, volunteers and fans.

WSP in the U.S. serves as prime designer for all three project segments, leading a team of 22 subconsultants. Our work covers the full progression, from concept of operations and environmental and preliminary design, through final design and stakeholder coordination. Drawing on deep familiarity with the I‑105 corridor and strong working relationships with Metro, Caltrans District 7, FHWA and local agencies, we help guide the project’s technical development and support informed decision‑making.

“It’s an honor to continue our productive history with Metro while bringing our experience and dedication to all three segments of this complex and high-profile project,” said Stephanie Hillebrand, senior vice president and project manager, WSP in the U.S.

Additionally, we provided tolling advisory services, toll hub building designs, light rail line ticketing machine and utility duct bank designs, and specialized geotechnical support to continue to support Metro and all project partners.

Segment one covers 6.5 miles from Interstate 405 (I-405) to Central Avenue, adjacent to LAX. It converts one high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane into two dynamically priced express lanes in each direction, widening seven undercrossing structures, including over the Dominguez Channel, constructing new retaining and soundwalls and installing tolling infrastructure for advanced operations. 

Construction is underway and is targeted for completion before the 2028 Olympics, ensuring vital connectivity is securely in place and operational.

The project is being delivered through a construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) method enabling close collaboration, value engineering and cost certainty.

“The most substantial benefits of CM/GC are during pre-construction,” Hillebrand said. “The contractor provides its perspective during the design phase so that our final designs reflect strong, cost-effective solutions.”

Second and third segments will build upon the first segment’s momentum. These segments are about 95 percent designed, with construction planned for summer 2026. Work will include additional bridge widenings, new retaining and sound walls, reprofiling local streets and further tolling infrastructure. Innovative design eliminated a significant number of permanent right-of-way acquisitions, reducing schedule and risk. The project will be completed entirely within the I-105 right-of-way.

The final two segments are scheduled for completion in 2029, when the full corridor will improve connectivity and travel time for motorists between I-405 at LAX in the west and Studebaker Road near Interstate 605 in the east.

The I-105 Express Lanes project is a transformative effort to enhance mobility, reliability and connectivity for Los Angeles County motorists. Key improvements include:

• Safety and connectivity: Direct median connections with Interstate 110 (I-110) minimize lane merging and turbulence, improving safety and traffic flow. Segment one will create vital connectivity between new express lanes on I-105 and existing express lanes on I-110. 
• Innovation and cost savings: Value engineering led to cost-saving design choices, such as soil nail walls to reduce excavation costs, reduced or eliminated bridge widenings, and innovative approaches to minimize right-of-way acquisitions in later segments.
• Dynamic pricing and travel time reliability: ExpressLanes use dynamic pricing to maintain minimum speeds, ensuring reliable travel times to LAX and downtown Los Angeles. Advanced signage and real-time travel time information will empower motorists to make informed decisions before they reach the highway. 

“Advanced signage in the median will provide motorists with real-time prices and travel time data before they have to make a decision,” Hillebrand said.