Police taped off Belcher’s Corner on Ryrie Street on Tuesday morning amid fears the heritage-listed building’s condition threatened public safety.
The builder’s owners established a temporary exclusion zone on the corner of Moorabool Street and Ryrie Street as a precaution, according to a council statement.
Vicroads, Geelong’s council and police diverted east-bound traffic on Ryrie Street and pedestrians for a short section of Moorabool Street near the building.
“We acknowledge this exclusion zone will cause some temporary disruption to traffic and commercial activity in the heart of Geelong,” council’s planning director Joanne Van Slageren said.
“But public safety is our number one concern.”
Council building services and emergency management staff were consulting with the owners of Belcher’s Corner as builders completed renovation in its basement, Ms Van Slageren said.
“We’re consulting closely with other agencies and the owners of Belcher’s Corner to ensure the area surrounding the building is safe, until all necessary basement works are satisfactorily completed.”
City Hall had advised Public Transport Victoria of possible impacts to bus services, Ms Van Slageren said.
But council did not forecast a likely reopening time for the section of Ryrie Street and nearby footpaths.
The Indy understands the safety concerns resulted from concrete cancer in the pillars of the building.
Concrete cancer occurs when the steel reinforcing a concrete slab from within begins to rust.
