NYC - Crane On 57th Street Gets Stuck While Hoisting Load Above Street

NEW YORK  – Officials have closed West 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues after a tower crane hoisting a load got stuck Monday morning.

A large, yellow box can be seen dangling at the end of the crane about 20 stories above the street below. Officials say the load weighs some 13,000 pounds.

The NYPD, FDNY, Department of Buildings and Office of Emergency Management have responded to the scene.

The crane and motor are not broken, but rather stalled, CBS 2′s John Slattery reported. Officials are trying to manually lower it.

The street below has been closed to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Gas lines and steam pipes below are being shut down by Con Ed as a precaution.

The malfunction is causing additional concern because New York City is under a tornado watch. The DOB had issued a reminder Monday to secure construction sites due to the forecast.

The incident is at One57, the same location where a crane boom collapsed during Superstorm Sandy, leaving the wreckage dangling and blowing in the wind. The tower is set to be New York City’s largest residential building.