Authorities fear a building that suffered structural damages during a nearby property demolition in Sydney’s northern beaches could collapse on to a footpath.
The two-storey commercial building was damaged when an excavator on a construction site on the corner of Sydney Rd and Woodlands St North brought its wall to the ground.
The incident unfolded at about 4.45pm in Balgowlah on Tuesday.
A building collapse has brought peak-hour traffic to a standstill in Sydney’s north
A demolition crew was using the excavator to remove steel girders at the former Porter’s liquor store when the machine knocked through a wall and struck the building.
The building houses a gymnasium and a Thai massage parlour, jasa topografi semarang which are believed to have opened recently.
A woman was working inside the building, but she was safely evacuated.
A demolition worker told the Manly Daily: ‘We had already finished the demolition, we were just moving the girders around to clear the site.
‘There was no one in the gym building, they all go home at 1pm.
‘Thankfully no one was hurt everyone is fine.’
The incident brought peak-hour traffic to a standstill after Sydney Road was closed in both directions between Woodland Street and Condamine Street.
Motorists have been advised to avoid the area.
‘If you need to travel through the area, use Woodland St, Griffiths St and Condamine St instead,’ an advisory read.
Engineers have been called to inspect the damaged building.
A police spokesperson said the area could be closed for the next two days due to fear that the two-storey building might collapse onto the footpath and roadways.
It is believed an excavator on a construction site on the corner of Sydney Rd and Woodlands St North brought part of the building to the ground