STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — If you drove on Victory Boulevard recently, you might be wondering why Con Edison has a lane blocked in either direction near Beyer’s Market in Willowbrook.
Here’s your answer: Con Edison is repairing an underground transmission cable on Victory Boulevard between Sheraden and Carmel avenues.
The project kicked off on Dec. 29, 2025, according to a Con Edison spokesperson, and is predicted to wrap up near the end of January.
Workers are trying to keep at least one lane of traffic moving in either direction so as to not add to the traffic kerfuffle more than it already is.
Con Edison is seen working on a stretch of Victory Boulevard near Beyer’s Market.Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri
At least two large liquid nitrogen tanks are located near the project, too, according to an Advance/SILive.com reporter.
“Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the underground [transmission] cable. We freeze the cable because it contains a fluid called ‘dielectric fluid’ that works as a coolant for the cable as the cable carries high-voltage electricity… The liquid nitrogen is used to freeze that fluid so that it is no longer flowing and can’t leak out,” the Con Edison spokesperson explained.
Distribution cables, unlike transmission cables, don’t harbor dielectric fluid and don’t require the liquid nitrogen.
Before you get too nervous, liquid nitrogen is a nontoxic, nonflammable substance, according to Utah State University.
It is extremely cold, however, so it can burn skin despite being nonflammable. It’s also “odorless, colorless, tasteless, and nonirritating,” the university’s website stated.
It can, however, be dangerous in an area that is not oxygen rich.
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