Complaints rise over manhole covers, lack of formal inspection process

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York City has some of the oldest manhole covers in the country and no formal, routine process for inspecting them.

Workers use the covers to access thousands of miles of sewer and utility lines beneath the surface. They typically weigh about 200 pounds each.

7 On Your Side Investigates is tracking an increase in complaints about the metal covers.

This, after 56-year-old Donike Gocaj plunged to her death Monday night, after stepping out of her car and into an open manhole in Midtown. A truck dislodged the cover just minutes before.

There are close to 700,000 manhole covers in New York City.

More than half of them are maintained by New York City's Department of Environmental Protection. In a statement, a spokesperson said there is no routine inspection process.

"DEP has approximately 400,000 manholes in the city (that does not include Con Ed and other utilities.), and we are constantly on the lookout for dislodged manhole covers, whether it comes from 311, from another agency like DOT, or by our crews being on the lookout during routine shifts," the statement said.

There are another 285,000 manhole covers that are maintained by Con Edison, like the one Gocaj fell into this week.

When Eyewitness News repeatedly asked Con Edison if they inspect their manhole covers, they didn't respond.

Complaints made to 311 about broken, damaged or missing manhole covers have increased in the city over the past three years.

In 2023, there were 810. The number rose to 954 in 2024, 1,025 in 2025, and so far this year, 714 complaints have been made as of May 19.

The city says it responds to 311 complaints for manhole covers with an onsite inspection within four hours.

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