Suspicious Device Wreaks Havoc On Bay Bridge
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP/BCN) -- A suspicious device forced authorities to temporarily shut the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on Friday afternoon, snarling traffic on both sides of the bridge.
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Authorities were notified around 1 p.m. about the device on Treasure Island, midway across the span. The suspicious object was found on one of the railings of the eastbound Treasure Island off-ramp.
The California Highway Patrol decided to shut down the bridge an hour later. They reopened westbound, then eastbound lanes shortly after 3 p.m. when police neutralized the threat and removed the object.
The exact nature of the device remained unclear, and the CHP said it did not yet know whether it was found to be harmless.
The closure caused a ripple effect on roadways. Traffic is typically heavy on Fridays, but it was expected to be exacerbated by several stadium events in the region. Thousands of drivers were anticipated to hit the road to attend the San Francisco Giants' and Oakland A's home games and Jay Z and Justin Timberlake concert at Candlestick Park.
(Copyright 2013 CBS San Francisco, the Associated Press and Bay City News. All rights reserved.)
