Crime & Safety
Suspicious Package Briefly Shuts George Washington Bridge: Cops
The NY-NJ connector was completely closed by police Thursday night after a suspicious package was found near the New Jersey side.
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — The George Washington Bridge was briefly shut down Thursday night after police found a suspicious package on one of its upper levels.
All levels of the New York-New Jersey connector closed in both directions around 10 p.m. as police investigated the suspicious device, according to the city's Emergency Management Department. The device had been found on the upper level of the bridge near the New Jersey side.
Authorities, including NYPD, Port Authority and New Jersey police, deemed the suspicious package safe by about 11 p.m.
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Traffic started up again, but there were still significant delays into the rest of the night.
Video shows cars backed up bumper-to-bumper along the entrance to the bridge.
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The George Washington Bridge is now closed in both directions due to police activity. NYPD is responding with its partners to a suspicious device. Expect detours and delays around the GWB approaches. Use alternate routes.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) August 23, 2019
NYPD did not have more details about the incident and the Port Authority could not immediately be reached.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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