An extensive section of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood was closed on Friday following the rupture of a major water line. The break, which occurred early Thursday, unleashed a torrent of water across the renowned Sunset Strip.

The closure affects Sunset Boulevard from Horn Avenue to San Vincente Boulevard/N. Clark Street. A massive sinkhole appeared after the 110-year-old pipe burst. Additional closures include Larrabee Street at Santa Monica Boulevard and Palm Avenue at Santa Monica Boulevard, as reported by the City of West Hollywood.

Soft closures, accessible only to residents, are in effect at Shoreham Drive at Sunset Boulevard, Holloway Drive between Palm and Hancock avenues, and San Vicente Boulevard at Cynthia Street. These measures disrupt normal activities for businesses and residents in this busy part of West Hollywood. Officials have urged drivers to avoid the area for several days to allow repair work by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) crews.

The break involved a riveted steel pipe from 1916, crucial for water delivery from reservoirs to smaller mainlines in Los Angeles. This section of the Sunset Trunk Line was scheduled for replacement in 2031. The city has about 547 miles of these trunk lines underground. In 2019, DWP noted that around 29% of the city’s pipes were over 80 years old, nearing the end of their standard 100-year lifespan. Limited funds hinder major upgrades of these aging pipes.

It is uncertain how long the repair will take. Anselmo Collins, DWP’s chief operating officer and senior assistant general manager, stated, “Once everything is shut down, we’ll pump the water out of the hole that we have. We’ll make an assessment. That will determine then how long it will take us to make the repairs.”