The MTA has temporarily stopped blasting on Second Avenue after a barrage of complaints from residents who say the subway project is stirring up an unhealthy amount of dust.
Bill Goodrich, the MTA's senior vice president of capital construction, told a meeting of Community Board 8's Second Avenue Subway Task Force Committee on Tuesday that blasting has been suspended until Dec. 5.
“We did that because we heard loud and clear from the community and elected officials, though it’s an impact to the construction schedule, and to workers,” Goodrich said, according to the Daily News.
He said the MTA is going to work on ways to cut down on the dust over the next two weeks.
Residents say it has become unbearable.
“I don’t want it to turn into a 9/11 situation where, five to 10 years down the line we’re sick,” resident Donna Pressman said at the meeting.
“There’s a big smoke cloud,” said Joan Schoenberger. “It’s very pervasive around that area.”
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The MTA is planning public workshops to discuss the ongoing issue. The first is Nov. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Park East Day School, 164 East 68th St.
