We’ve been getting Google search hits looking for details on an Interstate 5 closure; my own digging shows that “a suspicious device” has been found near the intersection of I-5 and Genesee:
The discovery of a possible pipe bomb alongside Interstate 5 in the Torrey Pines area forced a complete shutdown of a stretch of the heavily-traveled route for more than an hour Friday, authorities said.
Police found the object on the southbound side of the freeway near Genesee Avenue in the late morning, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officers initially shut down one lane and several connector ramps and called in a sheriff’s bomb squad, the CHP reported.
In the early afternoon, authorities shut down the entire interstate between I-805 and State Route 52 while the explosives experts used remote equipment to destroy the object, a dispatcher said.
The closure led to stop-and-go traffic along the freeway for miles.
About 3 p.m., the southbound side of I-5 was reopened, CHP public affairs Officer Larry Landeros said.
Go to the link above for current details. From the updated version of the article, it appears that the device may have been thrown from a car while a police chase was underway.
While the I-5 freeway is now open again in both directions, here’s the section that was closed for a few hours this afternoon (the blue marker indicates approximately where the device was found):
Just what you want during Friday afternoon rush hour in San Diego — a major freeway closure like this. Ouch. On the other hand, with the chance of another Santa Ana condition this weekend (albeit milder than a few weeks ago), I’m sure the various officials involved felt they couldn’t take any chances. ..bruce w..