WEST HOLLYWOOD — Water began pooling on the eastern edge of the work area at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, as crews compacted the concrete aggregate base. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power initially expected to finish repaving and reopening Sunset Boulevard later in the week of July 22, 2026.

A 36-inch cast-iron water main ruptured on July 16, 2026, at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive in West Hollywood. The rupture caused a sinkhole and flooding that damaged roads, sidewalks, homes, and businesses in West Hollywood. The water main break released approximately 17 million gallons of water. The ruptured water main was constructed in 1916.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Chief Customer Officer Joe Ramallo stated that crews are excavating to find the source of the leak and assessing the extent of the damage to begin additional repairs. "The extent of the needed additional work and the impact to the estimated timeline for completion is not known at this time," Ramallo said. It is unclear what caused the water main to break.

Repair crews performed work including pumping, repairing the pipe, welding, repressurizing, flushing, disinfecting, and water quality testing. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power used chlorine to treat the pipe to ensure it is free of bacteria. Road closures remain in effect at Horn Avenue at Sunset Boulevard, San Vicente Boulevard and North Clark Street at Sunset Boulevard, Larrabee Street at Sunset Boulevard, Larrabee Street at Santa Monica Boulevard, and Palm Avenue at Santa Monica Boulevard. Eastbound traffic is closed on Sunset Boulevard from San Vicente Boulevard and Clark Street.

West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman stated that all residents are safe to his knowledge. Nikky Abie stated that her car was totaled after being washed away from Palm Avenue. City officials urged affected business owners and neighbors to file auto or residential claims with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power online.

A 6-inch water main burst just 2 blocks east of the July 2026 Sunset Boulevard rupture in 2014, causing similar road closures and property damage. LADWP's 2026 repair project for the Sunset Trunk Line includes replacing 6.4 miles of 36-inch-diameter pipe and 3.5 miles of parallel distribution lines, costing $280 million. LADWP's Water System Capital Improvement Program design phase for the Sunset Trunk Line replacement began in 2026, with construction scheduled to start in 2031. LADWP's 2026 repair timeline for the Sunset Boulevard area includes phased reactivation of water pressure, with full system stabilization expected by July 26, 2026.