Tunnel Re-entry Update

Crews use small excavator inside the tunnel to remove the slurry fill pumped in to stabilize breach area.

The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts’ staff and project contractors are working with Cal/OSHA to safely proceed with phased repair and re-entry into the Clearwater Tunnel, which suffered a breach last July. With the aid of a custom-built remotely operated vehicle, extensive survey and inspection, the contractor has confirmed that the tunnel is stable all the way to the breach area, allowing the restoration of ventilation, power, and personnel entry to within 100 feet of the breach. Currently, crews are at work draining water, slowly removing debris from the breach, and preparing the damaged area for repair as allowed by Cal/OSHA. Once the crews reach the breach, more extensive tunnel repairs will take place. The breach repair process is expected to take several months to complete due to the complex engineering required and confined workspace and logistics.