Steam Line Blast Shut Down Part of Manhattan Ahead of New Year’s Celebration

On Dec. 27, New York City power company Con Edison responded to a release of steam on E. 52nd St. between 1st and 2nd Avenues in Manhattan. This steam line blast is not far from Times Square where the city’s biggest street party, the New Year’s Eve ball drop, took place last night.

Con Edison reported that the company coordinated with New York City Emergency Management and other agencies to get the matter under control. To do so, crews shut down a portion of a steam main in response to the release.

Environmental testing for possible asbestos was conducted in the affected area, which includes E. 51st St. from 2nd Avenue to 3rd Avenue and E. 52nd St. and E. 53 St. from 2nd Avenue to Park Avenue. Residents were urged to close all windows and stay inside.

Con Edison says initial tests did not detect asbestos in the air. However, there could be traces of it in the dust that covered cars and buildings in the area. Con Edison coordinated crews to wash debris from the streets and building facades in the area of the steam leak.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a press conference that there were no reported injuries due to the steam pipe leak. He added that the area would continue to be monitored and the NYC emergency management team provided N95 masks to residents in the area.

“Initially, we had a call in regards to a vapor condition on the location,” said Con Edison Vice President of Steam Operations Hugh Grant. “While we responded and were on site, that condition worsened and ended up with a release of steam. It’s not a rupture, it’s a release of steam on one of the auxiliary pipes on the steam system.”

Con Edison said there were no explosions associated with Wednesday’s leak, which could be why no one was injured. But the city said at the time that it could take a few days or more to clean everything up. The Times Square Ball Drop was not affected.