August 12, 2026Temporary asphalt patches are a familiar sight throughout New York City. After utility companies, contractors, and governmental agencies excavate public streets to repair underground infrastructure, they frequently install temporary pavement until permanent roadway restoration is complete. These temporary repairs are intended to support traffic for a limited period safely. When properly constructed and maintained, they ... Read More
August 12, 2026Road construction and utility work are unavoidable throughout New York City. Streets are excavated to repair water mains, replace gas lines, install electrical infrastructure, resurface roadways, and improve underground utilities. While these projects are necessary, they also create temporary roadway hazards that motorists do not ordinarily expect to encounter. The law recognizes that some dangerous ... Read More
August 12, 2026Every day, utility companies excavate New York City’s streets to repair water mains, replace aging gas lines, install electrical infrastructure, upgrade telecommunications systems, and maintain sewer networks. Most drivers pass these construction sites without giving them a second thought. Yet beneath nearly every utility excavation lies the potential for dangerous roadway conditions that may remain ... Read More
August 12, 2026Every time a roadway is excavated, the underground soil and supporting roadway structure are disturbed. Whether the excavation is performed to repair a water main, replace a gas line, install telecommunications infrastructure, or reconstruct a sewer system, the work cannot simply end when the underground repair is complete. The excavation must be properly rebuilt from ... Read More
August 12, 2026Roadways are designed to provide motorists with a predictable driving surface. Drivers reasonably expect lanes to remain relatively level, smooth, and consistent so they can safely control their vehicles at posted speeds. When roadway construction or utility work creates sudden pavement height differences, uneven roadway transitions, or abrupt elevation changes, those expectations disappear. A vehicle ... Read More
August 12, 2026Every day, contractors and utility companies obtain permits to excavate New York City’s streets to repair underground infrastructure, replace utilities, install telecommunications systems, and perform emergency maintenance. These permits are not merely administrative paperwork. They impose detailed safety obligations intended to protect motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and the public while roadway work is underway. When contractors ... Read More
