Pennant Hills Rd closed between Marsden and Jenkins Rds in Carlingford due to risk of crane tipping

A major Sydney road has been plunged into traffic chaos after a massive crane began to tip when it broke off its mounting support.

A major Sydney road has been completely shut down, sparking traffic chaos, amid fears a massive crane could tip over.

Pennant Hills Rd has become blocked between Marsden and Jenkins Rds in Carlingford after a crane broke off its mounting support over the major arterial road on Wednesday afternoon.

Motorists are being diverted due to a crane breaking off its mounting support near Carlingford. Picture: Supplied / Facebook

NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry made a video statement at the scene of the incident which he referred to as a “crane, which is leaning precariously”.

“Calls came in at 3.10pm, the work site was active at the time,” Superintendent Dewberry said.

“About 350 people on that site (were) evacuated safely. There’s also a number of properties around the site being evacuated as a precaution in the event that the crane does come down.

Superintendent Adam Dewberry from NSW Fire and Rescue at the scene of a collapsed crane near Pennant Hills Road. Picture: Supplied / NSW Fire and Rescue

“The crane is leaning at the bottom, there is reports that two of the anchor pins at the bottom have failed.

“We do have a lot of wind in the area at this time.”

“Some of the risks are that if the crane does collapse it can bounce or ricochet, so we’re just having all precautions.”

Superintendent Dewberry clarified that no injuries had been reported and the Pennant Hills road was closed in both directions between Marsden Road and the Carlingford Bowling Club.

NSW Fire and Rescue are leading the emergency response. Picture: Supplied / NSW Fire and Rescue

He said that Fire and Rescue NSW were currently leading the emergency response alongside NSW Ambulance and NSW Police traffic commanders, as well as public works engineers.

“We’re... working with the site specialist, working out how we can stabilise this crane to make it safe and start to return the community back to its normality.”

Images of the crane show its top half – or its “arm” – hanging horizontally alongside other cranes which have theirs pointed upwards.

NSW Police confirmed the blockage was “due to a hazard” in a statement.

Pennant Hills Rd has been shut down amid fears a crane could imminently tip over. Picture: Supplied / Facebook

Traffic has been banked up as a result of the hazard. Picture: Supplied

“Local diversions are in place. Motorists should follow directions of police and traffic crews on site. Motorists should also allow extra travel time,” a spokesman said.

“Local buses are also diverting away from Pennant Hills Road, missing several stops,” he said.

“Some buses may also be delayed.”

More to come.

Originally published as Pennant Hills Rd closed between Marsden and Jenkins Rds in Carlingford due to risk of crane tipping