A water main break in Canyon Country created a small sink hole Monday afternoon, tearing up part of Soledad Canyon Road.

Westbound motorists were re-routed up Shangri-La Drive through the adjoining neighborhood.

The leak in the underground water line was reported shortly after 2:30 p.m. The sink hole opened in the fast lane on Soledad between Vilna Avenue and Luther Drive, opposite the Edwards shopping center.

“We immediately isolated the valves that control the water going from one place to the other,” said  Mauricio Guardado, manager of CLWA’s Santa Clarita Water Division.  “It’s a dedicated suction line for one of our nearby pump stations, so no businesses or residents are out of water at this time.”

Sheriff deputies began diverting westbound traffic from Soledad Canyon Road to Shangri-La Drive while water company crews worked to find the source of the problem and clean up the road.

“Right now the city is out here checking out the road to see if it undermined the rest of the traffic lanes,” said SCV Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Allen.  “In the meantime we’re going to have all of the other westbound traffic shut down until they determine it’s safe to travel.”

“We’re hoping to get the two north bound lanes open within the next hour or so to try to meet all of the traffic that we’re expecting in rush hour,” Guardado said.

No structures or vehicles were damaged as a result of the leak. Public works crews were digging up the roadway Monday afternoon to check its integrity. A partial reopening of westbound lanes was expected Monday evening, but residents were advised to continue to avoid the area.

City officials said westbound motorists should take Sierra Highway to westbound Via Princessa to northbound Whites Canyon.