Gas Line Severed by Metro Construction on Saturday

On Saturday, August 13, residents on the 700, 800 and 900 blocks of S. Sycamore Ave.  stepped into alarmingly cold morning showers…and found their gas stoves weren’t working either.  The cause was a gas line at Wilshire and Sycamore that was accidentally fractured by Metro crews during excavation for the weekend’s subway decking work at that location.

According to Metro Media Relations Communications Manager Dave Sotero, the line was broken around 8 a.m. on Saturday, which interrupted gas service to 102 individual service lines along Sycamore, between Wilshire and Olympic.

Sotero said Metro crews stopped work at the break location immediately and contacted So Cal Gas, which owns the damaged pipe.  Sotero said a So Cal Gas repair crew was on site by 8:30 a.m. to help cap the broken line, which was fully repaired by 2 p.m.  Service was restored first to businesses in the plaza at the SE corner of  Wilshire and Sycamore…and then SoCal Gas technicians went door to door along Sycamore, re-lighting residential pilot lights and making sure appliances such as stoves and water heaters were working again.  Residents on the 900 block, furthest from the break, reported their pilots had been re-lit by about 4:00 p.m. (A few residents who weren’t home at the time of the break or service restoration received later visits, but all have now been reached, according to Sotero.)

Sotero told the Buzz yesterday that “Construction crews handled the situation following best safety practices. At no time was there danger or risk to workers and/or the community. If you need immediate attention regarding a construction activity you can contact the Purple Line Extension 24hr hotline at 213-922-6934. Sign up to receive notices or regular updates on construction activities at [email protected].”