29.10.2012

Tower crane fails in New York

Hurricane Sandy has taken the luffing jib of a tower crane out in Midtown Manhattan.
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The jib was pulled over the back

The incident occurred at the One57 building on 157th and 57th streets, experts are on site but the high winds are hampering what would be a challenging task at the best of times. The fear is that the jib will fall from its current position as wind rips it from the crane which is around 300 metres above street level.
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The crane is located on the top of the One57 building

Thankfully no injuries were reported and the streets below have been cleared as a precaution. Three other buildings including the Parker Meridian and Salisbury Hotels are also being evacuated and a "collapse zone” established which has cut off access to Carnegie Hall.
click here to see a video of the jib as it blew over the back of the crane
Click here to see a CNN report with some more video footage
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The crane before the wind took its jib

We have also heard seperate reports of damage to a façade scaffold elsewhere in the city.

The crane, owned by Pinnacle Industries of upstate New York, is under the ultimate control of main contractor Lend Lease which issued the following statement last night:
“At approximately 2:35pm today, the One57 tower crane boom became damaged by the high winds of hurricane Sandy. The hurricane storm winds have pushed the crane boom over the cab section of the high rise crane at One 57th Street.

NYC emergency personnel are on site working to get people away from any potential impact area should any additional failure take place.

The crane was last inspected on Friday, October 26 by the Operating Engineer from Postroad Ironworks following a checklist provided by the Engineer of Record.

We are working with structural engineers and the DOB on evaluating any additional measures that can be taken to secure the boom and crane structure. Current weather and wind conditions remain very severe.”

Vertikal Comment

While we cannot be certain it certainly looks as though this crane was not in a weathervane mode, which might just have saved it.