Crane Lifting Beam Shatters Windows At 4 WTC; 9/11 Memorial Closed
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - A crane lifting a beam broke some windows at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza at 4 World Trade Center today.
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The crane's weight apparently shifted as the beam was being hoisted into the air, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.
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No injuries were reported. About 12 units and 60 firefighters were at the scene Wednesday .
The plaza was evacuated after the 11:30 a.m. incident, said 9/11 Memorial spokesman Michael Frazier. Memorial staffers were waiting for the go-ahead from the FDNY before reopening the site.
The FDNY said the crane's weight apparently shifted as the beam was lifted. It hit windows on the 45th and 46th floors.
Glass and other debris were being cleared from the area.
The incident did cause traffic delays in the area.
Just two days ago, a ceremony was held to mark a construction milestone at the World Trade Center site.
Construction workers removed their helmets and looked on teary-eyed as the final steel beam of the tower was lifted into place Monday, accompanied by a rendition of "God Bless America" performed by gospel singer BeBe Winans.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver called it an amazing moment.
"Having lived down here my whole life and saying we're going to build better than ever, but this is the prime example," he said. "Seeing that beam go up was like another flag in the rebirth of downtown."
The original 4 World Trade Center was just nine stories tall and held what was one of the world's largest trading floors. Its replacement, on the same footprint, is much taller at 72 floors.
The tower is scheduled to open late next year. It is expected to be the first tower completed on the 16-acre World Trade Center site since the destruction of 9/11.
It will be the city's sixth tallest building when completed.
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
