Barrel creates traffic snarl

Discovery of a suspicious object at a U.S. Highway 95 underpass in Las Vegas shut down U.S. Highway 95 for several hours during Wednesday evening's commute.

Members of the Las Vegas police bomb squad were summoned after a suspicious package was found on 4th Street where it passes under U.S. 95, authorities said. Police were called at 5:10 p.m., according to 911 operating logs.

Traffic was shut down on 4th between Stewart Avenue and Bonanza Road, and traffic on U.S. 95 in both directions was diverted from the highway because of the package, said police spokesman Bill Cassell.

The package ended up being a large blue plastic barrel full of a "standard industrial chemical," Cassell said.

An independent HAZMAT disposal company was called and removed the barrel, Cassell said.

Traffic was reopened about 8:30 p.m., Cassell said.