Multiple major roadways in West Hollywood have been closed after a water main break at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive caused major flooding, damaging parked vehicles and rushing into apartments and homes in the trendy city.
The leak stems from a rupture in a 36-inch steel pipe that occurred around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, according to Anselmo Collins, chief operating officer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Water was shut off in the area by around 7:30 a.m. local time after the water main break was first reported, according to the city of West Hollywood; the city’s Department of Public Works quickly deployed personnel to the scene. The city said it is now working with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Metropolitan Water District to determine next steps.
There is currently no timeline for water main repairs, the city said in a statement Thursday.
The ruptured water main is just below Sunset Boulevard, which runs toward the northern edge of the affluent Westside neighborhood, where the terrain inclines steadily from a relatively flat baseline near Santa Monica Boulevard to steep elevations moving northward, past the Sunset Strip and into the Hollywood Hills.
The intersection of Sunset Boulevard where Holloway Drive meets Palm Avenue is the nexus of the break. Footage shot from a helicopter by ABC7 shows water rushing down Palm Avenue several blocks to Santa Monica Boulevard. Cars parked on Palm Avenue were seen with water rushing over their hoods, and homes were flooded as torrents rushed in.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was on the scene in West Hollywood this morning to assess the damage. At a morning press conference, officials assured the public that crews were on site working urgently to shut off the water and assess the damage. Bass said that because crews are dealing with highly pressurized pipes, they needed to work carefully to avoid further damage.
“I have to urge everyone to avoid this area,” Bass said. “We will provide more information as progress is made. And let me also say that this is one of the challenges when our infrastructure is so old — it’s my understanding that these pipes are over 100 years old.”
West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman said at the press conference that all residents were fine and that none would have to evacuate the area.
“The good news is that all of our residents, to our knowledge, are safe,” he said. “There was some street flooding this morning, some sub-garages that were flooded, but that seems to be abating. Our city staff responded immediately. We have set up an evacuation zone, if that appears to be necessary. But at this time, it does not appear that any of our residents will have to evacuate.”
The public was urged not to drive in the area, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued a Nixle advisory at approximately 5 a.m. Thursday with the following road closures: Eastbound Santa Monica Boulevard is closed between San Vicente Boulevard and Hancock Avenue. Eastbound Holloway Drive is closed between Sunset Boulevard and Westmount Drive. Eastbound Sunset Boulevard is closed between Larrabee Street and Sherbourne Drive. Larrabee Street, Palm Avenue and Hancock Avenue are closed northbound and southbound between Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards.
A massive sinkhole opened up on a West Hollywood sidewalk near Sunset Boulevard after the streets became flooded, according to KTLA. The local news channel reports that two men fell into the sinkhole. A line of cars could be seen driving past the sinkhole as neighborhood residents and commuters headed to work during morning rush hour.
A West Hollywood bus yard below Santa Monica Boulevard was also inundated with water. Officials with Los Angeles Metro said it would impact bus service in the area. On bus lines 16 and 105, northbound and westbound buses will lay over on San Vicente Boulevard in front of the Pacific Design Center. Eastbound and southbound buses will detour via Robertson Boulevard between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, the agency said Thursday.
Chief Operating Officer and Senior Assistant General Manager Dave Hanson said the emergency command center for the Department of Water and Power had been activated, which opens communication with the city emergency management department as well as West Hollywood.
“We’d like to extend our apologies to the community for the impact that this has had on you. Luckily, at this time, we don’t have services that are out, so everybody does have clean water that’s safe to drink,” Hanson said.
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