East Siders vent over dusty road work

Construction woes on the Upper East Side are not limited to Second Avenue subway work.

Residents who live near First Avenue have been complaining of dust being kicked up by a road repaving project.

The Department of Transportation on Aug. 12 started a project to rip up asphalt and pave First Avenue between 72nd and 125th streets, a job that's slated to last until mid-September.

Though the work is done overnight during the week, cars riding along the unpaved road during the day have caused plumes of dust that reach into apartments overhead.

Jackie Rose, 65, who lives on 86th Street near First Avenue, said it was "like a dust storm."

"You had to put your hand on your face to breath," Rose said.

Residents did note that there was less dust in the air yesterday, compared to when the repaving project was getting underway.

DOT spokesman Scott Gastel said the agency has increased efforts to suppress the dust, such as adding sweepers and wetting the area.