Suspicious package causes brief closure of George Washington Bridge

The George Washington Bridge (FOX 5 NY file)

The George Washington Bridge was briefly closed down Thursday evening due to a report of a suspicious package, authorities said. 

The alert for a "hoax device" was ended before midnight, with the NYPD giving the all-clear.  Police discovered a piece of piped on both ends.

It was reportedly placed on the bridge's New Jersey tower.

The investigation caused major traffic backups on both sides of the bridge.