A century-old 36-inch riveted steel water pipe beneath Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood burst early Thursday, July 16th, 2026, flooding streets and causing major road closures that snarled traffic in the Los Angeles area. The rupture created a protruding sinkhole and cracked pavement, with images showing local metro buses partially submerged in murky brown water.

No injuries were reported, according to John Heilman, West Hollywood’s mayor, who confirmed all residents were safe and no evacuations were necessary. He acknowledged the disruption caused by road closures and thanked the public for their patience as crews worked to stabilize the area, assess damage, and begin repairs.

David Hanson, interim general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), assured neighborhood residents that they still have access to clean drinking water. LADWP Chief Operating Officer Anselmo Collins explained that the agency replaces about 45 miles (72 km) of pipes annually but noted that weak spots in older pipelines can lead to leaks like this one.

Dialog Cafe, a popular brunch spot near the site, sustained significant damage and temporarily closed, stating on social media that it is uncertain when it will reopen.

At a press conference, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cited the pipe break as evidence of the urgent need for a comprehensive infrastructure plan. She highlighted that the pipe predates West Hollywood’s incorporation as an independent city in 1984 and emphasized the difficulty of repairing infrastructure affecting both West Hollywood and Los Angeles without a citywide strategy. Bass noted that a comprehensive infrastructure plan developed over the past few years was rolled out about two months ago and will be presented to voters on the November ballot.

Sources