Large Water Main Break Closes All Lanes On PCH In Malibu
MALIBU (CBSLA.com) — A large water main break north of Trancas Canyon resulted in the closure of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.
Los Angeles County Fire crews were on the scene, where water was blasting nearly 50 feet into the air out of one of the southbound lanes.
Leaking water was running through a row of multi-million dollar homes down below PCH, on Broad Beach Rd., and was running onto the beach.
A couple of the homes appeared to be dealing with large amounts of water from the break, which opened up a sinkhole.
Firefighters worked to build a sandbag barrier below PCH to protect the homes.
The sinkhole is located at PCH and Trancas Canyon Rd, according to LASD commander Mike Parker.
The break occurred around 6:45 p.m. on Thursday evening.
Water was turned off shortly after 9 p.m., and crews went to work trying to clean up the road and open traffic flow, which was expected to be opened around midnight.
"Right now, the sheriffs and public works have indicated to us that they were hoping to have PCH open in one to two hours, one lane in both directions," LA County Fire Chief Anthony Williams said.
The pipe involved in the burst is an 18-inch pipe, though the age of the pipe was not known.
Chief Williams pointed out that the geyser created by the break pointed away from the homes below PCH, for which firefighters and homeowners alike were thankful.
