Suspicious Vehicle Being Investigated On The Paso Del Norte Bridge

EL PASO, TX – Customs and Border Protection officials reopened the Paso del Norte port of entry after the investigation of a suspicious vehicle and packagetemporarily shut down the bridge.

Thepackage was first reported shortly before noon,Tuesday. Trafficwas rerouted on the Mexican side of the bridge and CBP officerswere sent to other area ports to open additional lanes and to better serve the displacement of traffic.

The bridge was shut down more than four hours.

The bridge was reopened after the bomb squad, which took three hours to arrive at the scene,determined there was no threat from a vehicle that containeda suspicious package spotted during a secondary inspection, officials say.

Pedestrians crossing the bridge into El Paso were asked to go back to Juarez and re-enter through the Stanton Street bridge – a three mile detour in 100-degree heat.

The PDN bridge, which is currently under construction that has already affected traffic, serves more than 5,000 vehicles and 21,000 pedestrians everyday, according to officials.