Crews finish cleaning up steam main leak that spewed asbestos in air on Upper East Side

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Steam pipe spews asbestos on Upper East Side
Traffic impacted on Park Avenue by steam pipe leak.

UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Con Edison crews have finished cleaning up the site of a steam main leak that spewed asbestos into the air on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

It happened Wednesday afternoon at a manhole on Park Avenue between East 69th and 70th streets.

Asbestos was detected in debris that spewed from the leak, initially prompting city officials to ask residents to close their windows.

Tests on debris showed the presence of asbestos, but Con Edison said complete air sampling results were negative.

Ten nearby customers were without heat or hot water for part of the day Thursday.

Con Ed will continue with repairs as normal on the steam pipe.

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