[symple_googlemap title=”Welcome To Las Vegas” location=”8400 block of West Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA” height=”300″ zoom=”15″]
A 36-inch water main installed nearly 100 years ago ruptured in West Hollywood Friday, flooding streets and closing a section of Sunset Boulevard.
The break in the 8400 block of Sunset Boulevard near Olive Drive was reported about 2:20 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Crews from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which supplies water to customers on West Hollywood’s east side, were dispatched to the scene and shut down the flow.
The Los Angeles Fire Department announced about 5:50 p.m. that the water was shut off, but DWP spokeswoman Kim Hughes, reached about 6:40 p.m., was unable to confirm an exact time, saying there was still “some minor flow.”
No service disruptions were reported.
The pipe believed to have broken was installed in 1916 and lined with concrete in 1957 “to protect (it) from corrosion and extend its life,” according to the DWP.
There is also a 32-inch pipe, operated by the Metropolitan Water District, in the area, according to the DWP.
At the height of the water flow, the ruptured pipe spewed about 9,600 gallons of water per minute, Hughes said.
Sunset Boulevard was closed in both directions between Holloway Drive and Crescent Heights Boulevard, snarling traffic into the evening rush. Some surrounding streets were also closed.
Buses on Metro’s Line 2 were rerouted from Sunset Boulevard to Santa Monica Boulevard between San Vicente Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, according to Metro.
County and city fire crews used sandbags to divert water from structures and employees of the Mondrian and Grafton hotels scrambled to keep water from flowing into their buildings.
Water from Sunset Boulevard flowed downhill along neighborhood streets toward Santa Monica Boulevard, but there were no immediate reports of residential flooding.
The House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard canceled tonight’s concert due to the break. Ticket holders will receive refunds, according to the venue. Officials at the Comedy Store said they were still planning to have shows Friday night, but were monitoring the situation.
— City News Service