Parts of Interstate 85 in Greenville County was closed Thursday following a reported incident on the highway.
According to Lt. Ryan Flood with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the GCSO’s SWAT and bomb team are investigating the scene.
According to Flood, the GCSO assisted the S.C Highway Patrol after a traffic stop just after 3:30 p.m.
According to the office of South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, SCDOT and SLED agents are also on the scene.
“I-85 near Mile Marker 44 is temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution due to a bomb threat issued during a routine traffic stop this afternoon by SC Transport Police,” according to a statement from McMaster’s office.
“SC DOT and state law enforcement are on the scene, and normal I-85 traffic will resume once the tractor-trailer is swept and cleared by SLED’s bomb squad,” according to McMaster.
Currently, law enforcement agents said South Carolina FBI agents are investigating the scene on I-85.
I-85 closed in Greenville, South Carolina
I-85 NB and SB in Greenville County is closed near Mile Marker 44 due to an active incident, according to Master Trooper M.R. Ridgeway with the SC Highway Patrol.
Both sides of the interstate are closed until further notice. Road detours are posted, but the public is urged to avoid I-85 in this area until further notice.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, traffic was blocked in all northbound and southbound lanes.
Authorities directed northbound traffic to exit Interstate 85 at the 40-mile marker onto Highway 153 for a several-mile detour.
Southbound travelers exited at Mile Marker 46 onto Highway 291.
Details of the accident were not immediately available.
Cars drive on alternate routes near I-85
Suggested routes for drivers
The SC Highway Patrol offered these alternative routes for drivers:
Interstate 85 Northbound Traffic will exit Interstate 85 @ 40 mm. Turn left turn onto SC 153. Travel SC 153 (Brown Road) to SC 20 (Piedmont Hwy). At SC 20 (Piedmont Hwy) turn left and travel SC 20 to Bracken Road. Turn Left on Bracken Rd and travel Bracken Road to US 25 ( August Rd). Turn left at US 25 (August Road) and travel north to SC 291. Travel SC 291 back to Interstate 85 North. The traffic will enter Interstate 85 @ 46MM
Detour from Interstate 85 South:
Interstate 85 Southbound traffic will exit Interstate 85 @ 46 MM ( SC 291). Traffic will turn left on SC 291 traveling south. Traffic will travel south to US 25 ( August Road). Traffic will travel south on US 25 (August Road) to Bracken Road. Traffic will turn right onto Bracken Road and travel Bracken Road to SC 20 ( Piedmont Hwy). Traffic will turn right onto SC 20 and travel to Brown Road (SC 153). Traffic will turn left on Brown Road ( SC 153) and travel SC 153 back to Interstate 85 at the 40 MM.
New Orleans, Las Vegas incidents make authorities extra cautious
Authorities are taking extra precautions after two incidents over the New Year’s holiday.
On New Year’s Eve, a Texas man, 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar, rammed his truck into a crowd of people in New Orleans, killing 15 and injuring 30.
Hours later, on New Year’s Day, a Tesla truck exploded outside of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, leaving one dead and seven injured. Matthew Livelsberger, the sole person in the truck, was identified as the dead person.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville bomb threat: Parts of I-85 shut down in South Carolina