Repair efforts are underway in West Hollywood where a 110-year-old water main burst last week, resulting in significant flooding. New photographs taken on Wednesday illustrate the progress construction teams are making as they work to fill a large sinkhole at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive.
This incident, which took place on July 16, was triggered by a 36-inch cast iron water main that ruptured, releasing thousands of gallons of water under high pressure into the surrounding area.
Images reveal trucks and bulldozers at work on the roads, while crews in hard hats focus on mending the city’s damaged infrastructure.
The disruption has led to major traffic issues as motorists are forced to navigate detours around the affected zones. Currently, the road closure remains active, and there’s no clear timeline for when repairs will be completed and normalcy restored.
Several streets are closed to the public, including:
- Horn Avenue at Sunset Boulevard
- San Vicente Blvd / N Clark St at Sunset Blvd (eastbound traffic prohibited)
- Larrabee Street, both sides of Sunset Boulevard
- Larrabee Street at Santa Monica Boulevard
- Palm Avenue at Santa Monica Boulevard
According to officials, the sheriff’s office has labeled the situation a “major water main break.” The breach has had destructive effects, flooding streets and damaging homes and businesses in the vicinity.
Videos from last week captured the unsettling sight of water cascading down streets, submerging cars. Witnesses indicated that both the ground floor of the nearby apartment complex and its underground garage were flooded, leaving several vehicles stranded.
The popular Dialogue Cafe experienced considerable damage due to the flooding, and clips showed the alarming onset of water in the establishment.
Despite ongoing repairs, the underlying cause of the water main break remains uncertain. Mayor Karen Bass noted that the primary concern during this extended disruption involves morning commuters, especially considering that the pipes are over a century old.
Mayor John Heilman reassured the community that, for now, all residents appear to be safe. The incident has raised broader worries about the city’s aging infrastructure, where the burst pipe, installed in 1916, highlights the urgent need for upgrades.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has stated that the repaving of Sunset Boulevard should be completed by the end of this week, but the reason behind the break is still being investigated.
