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WeHo water main break creates sinkhole and array of street closures. Here's what to know
A sink hole at Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive in West Hollywood has swallowed up an intersection after a water main break.
(
Allen J. Schaben
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
A water main break near Palm Avenue and Harratt Street sent waters flooding through West Hollywood early Thursday, causing a massive sink hole.
Roads have been closed off and residents warned to stay out of the area, with dramatic footage posted online of water rushing down streets and cars slamming into each other:
Because of the highly pressurized water system, emergency crews said Thursday they must work slowly and carefully to avoid causing more damage. Several roads were closed and Metro system buses detoured — see details below.
A leak from an over 100-year-old trunk line caused the rupture, authorities said. The line has been shut down, as well as two large valves to the east and west. Anselmo Collins, chief operating officer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, assured residents that drinking water is not affected and remains safe to drink.
“We are also coordinating on the ground with law enforcement and will be working with traffic control as we make progress and assess and begin repairs,” wrote LADWP in a statement.
Residents were are encouraged to take pictures of any damage from the flooding in case a claim needs to be filed later.
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What you need to know about affected areas:
Avoid the area if at all possible. But if you need to venture in, here’s what you need to know:
Road Closures:
- Eastbound Sunset Boulevard is closed between Larrabee Street and Sherbourne Drive.
- Eastbound Holloway Drive is closed between Sunset Boulevard and Westmount Drive.
- Eastbound Santa Monica Boulevard is closed between San Vicente Boulevard and Hancock Drive.
The following bus routes have been delayed or detoured.
- 2 Line (Sunset)
- 4 Line (Santa Monica)
- 10/48 (Melrose)
- 14/37 (Beverly)
- 16 Line (3rd Street)
- 20 Line (Wilshire)
- 28 Line (Olympic)
- 30 Line (Pico)
- 35 Line (Washington)
- 134 Line (PCH)
- 217 Line (Fairfax)
- 602 Line (Sunset)
- 617 Line (Robertson)
LAist will continue to update this story as we learn more.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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