NYC Construction Crane Snaps in Hurricane Sandy, Prompting Evacuation Orders
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@cmwdotme(NEW YORK) — A construction crane atop of a New York City luxury high-rise building buckled and dangled dangerously over midtown Manhattan Monday amid high winds from Hurricane Sandy, prompting New York City officials to order residents in nearby buildings to evacuate.
The crane was perched close to the top of One57, a 1,004-foot luxury residential tower under construction near Central Park at 57th street, between 6th and 7th avenues.
“Due to a crane collapse at 157 West 57th Street in Manhattan, all occupants of buildings on West 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues must immediately move to the lower floors of your building and make contact with your building safety representative,” an email alert from the city said.
The collapsed part of the crane swayed in the wind for hours, as wind speeds from Hurricane Sandy expected to reach to 45 mph Monday afternoon and 80 mph by that night, according to the National Weather Service.
City police and fire department officials first responded to a report of a crane collapse at the 90-story building around 2:50 p.m. ET Monday. Police placed a cordon, about four blocks wide, to try to protect people stopping to gawk at the dangling, mangled metal wreck.
Upon completion, One57 will be New York City’s tallest residential building. The private building hosts nine full-floor luxury apartments, including two duplexes under contract for more than $90 million each and seven others ranging from $45 million to $50 million, according to the New York Times, which called One57 “the global billionaires’ club.”
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