PHOENIX — Drivers can blame a traffic-counting device for the closures of three Valley freeways on Wednesday morning.
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, one of their workers spotted the suspicious device near a traffic pole in the area of Interstate 10 and 16th Street.
ADOT called in the device to the Department of Public Safety around 7 a.m., prompting DPS to alert the bomb squad.
DPS confirmed the suspicious package that shut down the mini-stack freeways of I-10 westbound, SR-51 southbound, and SR-202 westbound, was a "traffic counting device." According to ADOT, the device belonged to a contractor of the Maricopa Association of Governments.
The closures have been lifted. It's going to take some time to clear the backup. #PhxTraffic https://t.co/MNneqSWXR3
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) April 10, 2019
Video from the scene on Wednesday morning showed items next to a traffic pole in the area of I-10 and 16th Street.
As a precaution, all of the area freeways were shut down in both directions, leading to major delays across Valley freeways for morning commuters.
The DPS Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit came in with a robot and determined the item was not a threat.
The freeway was reopened around 9 a.m.
DPS has CLOSED three highways at the mini stack due to police activity: I-10 westbound, SR-51 southbound, and SR-202 westbound. Expect major delays. Avoid the area. #phxtraffic
— MCDOT News (@MCDOTNews) April 10, 2019
Loop 202 WB at the Mini Stack, CLOSED. SR-51 SB at Mini Stack, CLOSED. No access to WB I-10. Use streets or the 10 or 17. @abc15 https://t.co/Py5FMqKZhI
— Chelsey Davis (@ChelseyDavisTV) April 10, 2019
I-10 westbound at the SR 51 Mini-Stack: Traffic is stopped for police activity. #PhxTraffic pic.twitter.com/6oadtmk0C2
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) April 10, 2019
L-202 westbound at the I-10 Mini-Stack: Traffic is stopped for police activity. #PhxTraffic pic.twitter.com/P2psBLrO6n
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) April 10, 2019
