Officials say no injuries as century-old pipe ruptures near Sunset Strip
The rupture of a 36-inch riveted steel pipe occurred at Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive. Water poured down the street, inundating ground-floor apartments and businesses, and partially submerged several metro buses. A large sinkhole opened in the roadway.
West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman said at a Thursday press conference that no injuries had been reported and that all residents were safe. “All of our residents to our knowledge are safe,” Heilman said, adding that there was no immediate need for evacuations. He also said in a statement, “We know these road closures and traffic impacts are disruptive, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as crews work to stabilize the area, assess the damage, and begin repairs.”
David Hanson, interim general manager for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said neighborhood residents have clean drinking water.
Anselmo Collins, LADWP’s chief operating officer, said the agency annually installs and replaces about 45 miles of pipes. “Unfortunately, sometimes there may be parts of the pipeline where you end up with a weak spot and it reveals itself when you have these types of leaks,” Collins said. He noted that water pressure typically surges at night when fewer people are using it, adding, “Everybody’s asleep. So consequently normally that’s when you see a water main break take place.” Collins did not provide a timeline for repairs.
The flooding affected the Sunset Strip, a cluster of restaurants, bars, and retail. Dialog Cafe, a popular brunch spot, said in a social media post that it was temporarily closed after sustaining “significant damage” from the water break. The restaurant wrote, “We don’t yet know exactly when we’ll be able to reopen.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the pipe’s break highlighted the need for a comprehensive infrastructure plan. “This is one of the challenges when our infrastructure is so old,” Bass said. “I spent the last couple of years developing a comprehensive infrastructure plan of which we rolled out about two months ago.” She noted the measure will be put before voters on the November ballot and said, “It is very difficult to repair the infrastructure that impacts the entire city and clearly two cities – West Hollywood and Los Angeles – without a citywide plan.”
The pipe predates the 1984 incorporation of West Hollywood as an independent city, Bass said. Officials said they do not yet know what caused the rupture.