The New York City Department of Design and Construction says utility companies are to blame for a major delay in a routine repaving project in the Meatpacking District that was intended to last only two months. 

But more than two and a half years later, work is still being done on the roadway between 15th and 16th streets on 9th Avenue. 

This was supposed to be the last leg of a $28 million reconstruction project in the neighborhood, but once the street was ripped open, workers realized that there were utility lines installed dangerously close to the surface, causing a down spiral of delays.

About half a dozen telecom companies that had their utilities underground needed to identify and relocate them properly for the agency to continue working. Underneath this block are also water, sewer, steam, gas and electricity. To relocate one service may require several others to move their pipes -- a process that can take several years.

"Utility is by far the number one cause of delay to infrastructure projects, and in Manhattan in particular, it’s almost impossible to work underground without coming into contact with some kind of utility," said Ian Michaels, the Director of Public Information at the city’s Department of Design and Construction.

Complicating matters further is city law prohibiting 9th Avenue from shutting down entirely, so work must be completed in sections to maintain a steady flow of traffic.

The repaving project is expected to be completed by fall of 2021.