Sunset Boulevard reopening targeted for Friday or Saturday following new pinhole leak

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) crews are working to repair a newly discovered pinhole leak along Sunset Boulevard while maintaining plans to reopen the damaged West Hollywood corridor by Friday or Saturday.

What we know:

Around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, crews observed water coming up from the backfilled area near the east end of the worksite as they prepared the road for paving. LADWP identified the issue as a small pinhole-sized leak in the 36-inch diameter riveted steel pipeline, which dates back to 1916.

Overnight, crews excavated an approximately 3x4 foot area to locate the leak and took water quality samples Thursday morning. In the meantime, repaving and striping continued around the isolated work area.

The original rupture occurred around 3 a.m. last Thursday at Holloway Drive, sending roughly 17 million gallons of water through West Hollywood streets, moving parked cars, shifting concrete slabs, and flooding garages. 

More than 250 LADWP workers worked around the clock to weld a 25-foot replacement section into place by Sunday night.

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Separately, LADWP responded to a 6-inch cast-iron water main leak break at Laurel Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, abou a mile from the Sunset site. 

Officials confirmed this secondary break is entirely unrelated to the Sunset Boulevard trunk line or its pressurization. Restoration for the Santa Monica Boulevard leak is anticipated around 4 p.m. Thursday.

LADWP confirmed that drinking water remains safe across the system with no service interruptions expected, though residents are asked to conserve water. 

Long-term, design work is underway to replace nearly 6.4 miles of large pipeline and 3.5 miles of distribution pipe along the 10-mile Sunset Trunk Line, with construction scheduled for 2031.

 The utility noted its system leak rate is 16.1 leaks per 100 miles of pipe, 36% below the national average of 25 leaks per 100 miles.

What we don't know:

The specific cause of the original main break remains under investigation. 

Utility officials also noted that they do not know the exact origin of the new pinhole leak, explaining that secondary leaks can occasionally appear nearby when mains are re-pressurized.

What they're saying:

Despite finding water bubbling up in the backfill area, LADWP officials maintained that work remains on track for a late-week reopening.

"Currently, there are no known impacts to our goal of reopening the street Friday," the utility stated in a morning update.

"LADWP crews continued repaving and striping of Sunset Boulevard early (Thursday) morning while working to repair a small pinhole-sized leak identified last night at the east end of the worksite. Overnight crews excavated an approximately 3x4 foot area to locate the affected area. Water quality samples were taken from the pipe this morning and will be followed by welding a patch at the site of the leak. If all goes well, the excavation will be repacked and paved."

Speaking live from the site, Cesar Rubio, LADWP Director of Water Distribution, addressed the new leak and the timeline to FOX 11's Gigi Graciette.

"Last night around approximately 8:30 p.m. our crews found a saturated wet spot on the east side of the excavation. They excavated down and found a small leak," he said.

When asked if the leak had been fixed, Rubio noted, "It has not... Next steps we have in plan. Our schedule is to dewater the trunk line so we can make the necessary repairs."

Regarding the timeline for reopening Sunset Boulevard, Rubio clarified, "Absolutely, I said by the end of the week, so it could be Friday or Saturday."

When asked about firm deadlines, Rubio added: "It's hard to put a deadline on that," while confirming the remaining tasks.

"There's some re-striping that needs to be taken place and then some cleanup and some demobilization from the contractors and our crews. But essentially, that's it."

Addressing the separate break on Santa Monica Boulevard, Rubio explained, "[It's a] six-inch cast iron water main leak. We have two to four leaks per day that happen within the city of Los Angeles. We are a big city to take care of, so no relation to this one."

Rubio also offered a message to local residents and businesses thanking them for their patience and understanding.  

What's next:

Crews will dewater the trunk line, weld a metal patch over the pinhole leak, repack the excavation, and complete final paving and restriping. 

The isolated water inside the disinfected pipe section must pass water quality testing before the trunk line can be officially reopened for service.

 Once cleanup and contractor demobilization are complete, Sunset Boulevard will reopen to traffic.

What you can do:

• Traffic & Closures: Sunset Boulevard remains closed between Sherbourne Drive and San Vicente Boulevard. Use local detour routes and avoid the area if possible.
• Claims & Resources: Affected residents and business owners experiencing property damage can submit claims at LADWP.com/Claims or call 1-800-DIAL-DWP.
• City Updates: West Hollywood residents can visit weho.org/watermainbreak for street closures, Metro detours, parking enforcement changes, and hotel discount information.

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