Santa Monica Boulevard, once a lifeline called Route 66, remained closed in West Hollywood this morning following an electrical vault mishap, authorities said.

The problem came up at 6:45 a.m. and prompted the L.A. County Fire Department to respond, officials said. Although West Hollywood sheriff's officials called it an “underground transformer explosion in the middle of Santa Monica Blvd.,” fire authorities say there was no blaze:

In the meantime, however, the big street was closed down between Formosa Avenue and Greenacre Avenue.


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In a statement, the sheriff's department recommended taking these north-south streets and driving around the closed area:

-Westbound Traffic can use La Brea Avenue

-Eastbound Traffic can use Gardner Street

[With reporting from City News Service / @dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

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