Repair work on burst water-main almost complete

WESTWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- LADWP crews neared completion Saturday on repairs to the ruptured water-main line on Sunset Boulevard in Westwood that flooded streets and parts of the UCLA campus.

Although there was no official time the street was set to open, officials were hoping the repairs would be complete before the Monday morning commute.

So far, crews have replaced two valves and damaged pipe sections and have welded a new juncture. They also reinforced the pipe with concrete blocks and extra steel plates before putting gravel down to fill the hole.

Meanwhile, cars trapped in the lower levels of UCLA parking structures flooded by the water-main break will likely not be towed out until at least Tuesday, a spokesman for UCLA said.

"The lower they go into structures, the more mud and debris have to be removed so that damaged cars can be towed," said Tod Tamberg, spokesman for UCLA.

On Tuesday, the water-main break spewed more than 20 million gallons of water into the streets and parts of the college campus. In its wake, a huge crater could be seen in the middle of the street.

Although no one was injured, firefighters rescued at least five people stranded by the water.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said car owners affected by the flood can submit a claim at www.ladwp.com/claims.