NY crane to be removed after cracks discovered

NEW YORK (CNN) - A downtown New York crane like the two that collapsed in the city earlier this year is being taken apart after inspectors discovered cracks in its structure, according to New York's Department of Buildings.

The acting commissioner of the department told CNN in an email that while the cracks do not compromise the structural integrity of the crane, "we want to err on the side of caution in the interest of the public's safety."

The crane removal is not expected to disrupt traffic or prompt an evacuation.

The crane, that was being used to construct the W New York Downtown Hotel, is a Kodiak - the same model as the two cranes that collapsed in separate incidents in New York earlier this year.