Suspicious Bag Under Route 72 Bridge Deemed Safe By Police

STAFFORD, NJ — A suspicious bag under the Route 72 causeway bridge forced the closure of the bridge in both directions on Sunday morning for more than two hours, police said.

Stafford police said the bag was "deemed safe, and non-threatening" following an investigation by the New Jersey State Police.

"Afterward, the bridge traffic was opened in both directions," Stafford police said in a Facebook post at around noon.

Police received a call at about 10:20 a.m. for a "suspicious bag under the RT. 72 East Causeway Bridge, near Morris Boulevard," the post said. "Out of an abundance of caution, the bridge was closed in both directions.”

Stafford police were assisted by the New Jersey State Police, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department, Stafford Fire and EMS, and Ship Bottom police and fire.

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