Construction crane in Halifax stable following building evacuation, road closures

An unstable construction crane that forced the evacuated of a Halifax apartment building has been fixed.

A construction crane that forced the evacuation of an apartment building and closed roads in the Fairview area of Halifax is now considered stable.

Emergency crews responded to the scene in the Dutch Village Road area around 5 p.m. Thursday.

The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) says the crane was upright at the time but deemed to be unstable.

Residents were asked to avoid Dutch Village Road, Titus Street, Main Avenue, McFatridge Road, Alma Crescent, Andrew Street, Deal Street, Percy Street and Supreme Court.

Streets in the area were also closed.

About 100 people were evacuated from the area as a precaution. More than a dozen people used the Beechville Lakeside Timberlea Community Centre as an evacuation centre.

HRM says the scene was secured and considered safe around 7:30 p.m.

Police, fire crews and safety officers with Nova Scotia’s Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration stayed at the scene overnight.

Halifax Professional Fire Fighters says engineers and crane experts assessed and stabilized the crane.

“Following stabilization efforts, repair teams were able to safely access the affected area of the crane and complete the necessary repairs,” reads a Friday morning post on social media.

“The crane has now been stabilized, and roadways in the area are expected to reopen this morning.”

The municipality says residents who evacuated can return to their homes and businesses.

Halifax Transit routes in the area have also returned to regular service.

The evacuation centre in Lakeside will close at 9:30 a.m.

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