Sunset Boulevard expected to reopen after West Hollywood water main break caused sinkhole

A part of Sunset Boulevard that was damaged during a West Hollywood water main break is expected to reopen on Friday evening.

Crews from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power have been working for the past week to repair the road after a 36-inch water pipe ruptured causing major flooding and destruction to residents who live nearby.

West Hollywood officials said LADWP crews have begun slowly refilling and repressurizing the pipe while monitoring any other issues.

The LADWP will continue to perform water quality tests to ensure all standards are met before returning the repaired pipe back to service. The agency said that following repairs to a pinhole-size leak last night, a new leak appeared Friday morning in an existing portion of the pipe. Water will be rerouted through an existing 8-inch pipeline while the 12-inch valve is replaced, according to LADWP.

"This alternate isolation plan allows us to begin backfilling and paving operations at the site and enables our expected reopening of Sunset Boulevard tonight," LADWP wrote in a news release.

The water main break caused a massive sinkhole in the street, forcing officials to close the road for repairs. The part of Sunset Boulevard is in a traffic-filled area which has been impacting commutes and businesses in the area.

Aerial footage of the area on Friday morning showed crews working on the damage.

Officials said the street paving is temporary and that the LADWP will return in the coming weeks to complete the permanent street repaving, repairs to a nearby bus pad and adjoining sidewalk.

The LADWP said on Friday that it will accelerate the full replacement of the affected trunk line, a project previously scheduled to begin in 2031. 

The following road closures remain in effect:

Hard Closures:

• Sunset Blvd & Horn Ave

• Sunset Blvd east of Larrabee St

• Palm Ave & Santa Monica Blvd

• Larrabee St & Santa Monica Blvd

• Palm Ave (south and north of Nelles St)

Soft Closures:

• Sunset Blvd & San Vicente Blvd

• Sunset Blvd & Larrabee St (north/south)

• Sunset Blvd west of Sherbourne Dr

• Holloway Dr (Hancock Ave to Palm Ave)

• Cynthia St & north San Vicente Blvd

People are still urged to avoid the area and use alternate routes.