'All clear' after 'explosive threat' at Picatinny Arsenal

All lanes of Route 15 reopened at 4:50 p.m. Friday following a potential "explosive threat" at Picatinny Arsenal, the Arsenal's Office of Public Affairs said.

The explosive threat was a suspicious truck that had attempted to gain access to the base but was stopped by a guard. After a thorough search of the vehicle, no explosives were found and the "all clear" was given, Public Affairs said.

While the truck gate remained closed Friday evening, the front entrance of Picatinny Arsenal commenced normal operations at about 5:15 p.m. Friday. Gate operations will continue through the Mount Hope gate for a limited time, Public Affairs said.

The road closures however caused major traffic chaos in the area with Route 80 backed up all the way to Parsippany.

The trouble started at about 11:30 a.m. Friday when a driver attempted to enter Picatinny Arsenal through the post's truck gate, when security noticed something suspicious about the vehicle, Public Affairs said.

Security treated the situation "as if it were an explosive threat" and entry through the gate was halted, according to Public Affairs.

At 4:15 p.m., Public Affairs said one individual has been detained by law enforcement officials and was being questioned.

Arsenal employees were told to leave work at 1:44 p.m.

Berkshire Valley Road was also closed from Taylor Road to Route 15 and Route 15 was closed from Route 80 to Berkshire Valley due to the situation.

The backup also affected neighboring roadways in the area, and police are advising motorists to avoid the area if possible.

Picatinny Arsenal said it is coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies on the matter, and personnel are working to return the area to "safe travel conditions" Friday afternoon.

Located off of Route 15 on about 6,400 acres in portions of Rockaway and Jefferson townships, Picatinny has been designated as the Joint Center of Excellence for Armaments and Ammunition. It provides nearly 90 percent of the Army's lethality capabilities and other products products and services to all branches of the U.S. military.

The installation specializes in the research, development, acquisition and life-cycle management of advanced conventional weapon systems and advanced ammunition.

The arsenal employs about 5,000 people, the majority of which whom are civilian employees or contractors, making it one of the top employers in Morris County.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@dailyrecord.com