Suspicious Object on Coronado Bridge Ramp Found to Be Harmless

A suspicious object that looked like a pipe bomb, but turned out to be harmless, was found on the southbound Interstate 5 ramp to the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge.

California Highway Patrol said a driver spotted the roughly 18-inch-long tube around 8:30 a.m. Monday, prompting an immediate closure of all southbound I-5 lanes between state Route 94 and the bridge. The southbound transition ramp onto the bridge was also closed. Traffic was diverted to eastbound Route 94.

Authorities used a robot to remove the object. They determined it was not an explosive, but rather an inert piece of military ordnance, according to CHP officials.

The freeway remained closed for about 90 minutes, reopening around 10 a.m.

City News Service contributed to this report.