'Suspicious package' closes I-287

Police have reopened Interstate 287 in both directions between Hanover and Parsippany after the State Police Arson and Bomb Squad investigated a suspicious item.

Delays on I-287 northbound at Route 10 (NJ DOT)

The road reopened around 11:15 a.m. New Jersey State Police in a tweet said the package was turned out to be soft-case luggage that contained stuffed animals and trash. The Arson and Bomb Squad is closing the case.

The highway was first closed around 9:15 a.m. in both directions between exit #39 (Route 10) in Hanover and #43 (Intervale Road) in Parsippany which includes the interchange with Interstate 80. Traffic was being diverted off the road at each closure point while the exits to I-287 from I-80 were closed in both directions.

A Department of Transportation employee first noticed the package in a turnaround near milemarker 43 and called police according to the Daily Record. NJ State Police Stephen Jones told NJ.com that reports the package had Arabic writing on it are false. "The was just a box there that had some writing they didn't recognize, but it wasn't anything...just a missing suitcase."

Fast Traffic's Pete Toriello has reported that there appeared to be two suspicious items on the road: a box and a suitcase. Helicopter images show police using a robot to approach the items.

Receive Traffic Text Alerts about I-287 and incidents impacting New Jersey highways by texting TRAFFIC to 89000.