UPDATES

07/10/2025

2:45 PM

Based on the preliminary information we have, it appears the partial tunnel breach occurred under Western Avenue, approximately 500 feet south of Weymouth Avenue and 370 feet below ground. In general, the tunnel alignment is within the public right-of-way.  Survey crews at the site verified there is no surface damage or discernible movement at this location, and the area is safe. 

Our survey crews monitor the road above the tunnel alignment before and after the tunnel boring machine passes through the area. This area has been monitored since September 2024 and as recently as April of this year, with no discernible movement.

Starting today, Sanitation Districts survey crews will monitor the area daily, 300 feet before and after this point. Readings will be taken across the street in 50-foot increments.

Sanitation Districts continues the investigation with our contractor Flatiron Dragados and will provide updates as information becomes available. Thank you for your understanding.

 For more information on the Clearwater Project, visit www.clearwater.lacsd.org.

8:45 AM

 Last night at approximately 7:45PM, an incident occurred during construction of the Clearwater Tunnel in Carson. The Clearwater Tunnel shaft site and point of access is located on property owned by the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, adjacent to our A.K. Warren Water Resource Facility. This facility receives and treats wastewater from approximately 3.5 million county residents. A partial tunnel breach occurred at approximately the 5-mile mark. All 31 workers inside at the time were able to safely exit the tunnel and be lifted from the shaft entrance where some were evaluated and treated for minor injuries. All workers were recovered safely. Emergency response teams from the Los Angeles Fire Department, including Urban Search and Rescue units, responded immediately and assisted construction crews onsite with successful rescue operations.

We are very pleased and relieved that all tunnel workers were brought safely back to the surface. We deeply appreciate all first responder agencies for their swift and professional efforts. No major injuries have been reported at this time. The Clearwater Tunnel is still under construction and was not expected to enter service for several more years. It is designed to carry treated effluent, not sewage, and there is no risk to the environment. The project is being constructed by Flatiron West and Dragados USA, operating as a joint venture under contract with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. We are working directly with the contractors to conduct a full investigation of the cause of this incident. The investigation will look at the safety, engineering and structural integrity of the tunnel and has already begun. Clearwater Tunnel operations have been halted while this investigation takes place and there is no timeframe for how long the process will take. Safety remains the highest priority of the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. We will continue to coordinate with all relevant agencies and provide updates as they become available.

For more information and ongoing updates, please continue to visit our webpage or contact us at info@lacsd.org.