A portion of Greene Street in Jersey has been shut down and designated a potential collapse zone due to visible cracks in the Powerhouse building, according to Jersey City spokesman Nathaniel Styer.

By Dan Israel/Hudson County View

The tower portion at the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse building has developed visible structural cracks, he said. According to Styer, they are believed to be caused by vibrations from the light rail operating beneath the structure.

In response, a contractor installed vertical stabilization straps along the exterior to secure the building. However, he said that some of these straps now appear to be loosening, creating potentially unsafe conditions, particularly amid cold temperatures and high winds.

As a precaution, Greene Street is shut down at Bay Street and has been designated a potential collapse zone, Styer added. Additionally, all southbound traffic is being rerouted onto Bay Street.

The Jersey City Office of Emergency Management is on scene and will conduct an aerial drone assessment to further evaluate the structural integrity of the building and the closure will remain in effect until the contractor fully secures the building.