PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — All lanes on Interstate 75 have reopened in Pasco County after being closed on Thursday morning due to what the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is calling a “suspicious incident.”

The discovery of an item by FDOT Asset Contractors on the shoulder of the southbound I-75 exit ramp leading to State Road 52 caused the closure, FHP officials said.

According to FHP, State of Florida and Tampa PD bomb squad experts responded to the incident location to render safe the item which appeared to be a potential explosive device, and the item has been removed for further testing by State of Florida explosive experts.

Initially the roadway was closed in both directions. A short time later, troopers reopened northbound lanes to traffic, with both lanes reopening later on.

Southbound traffic was diverted at Exit 293 and northbound traffic was diverted at Exit 282. 

Traffic was prevented from entering I-75 at SR-52 (Exit 285).