All southbound lanes of the Downtown Connector were closed for nearly 90 minutes Monday while the Atlanta police bomb squad police investigated a suspicious package.

The package was found along I-75/85 south of Fulton Street around 11:15 a.m. All southbound lanes were closed until about 12:40 p.m.

The Atlanta police bomb squad went to the scene along with fire and EMS crews. The DOT diverted southbound traffic onto I-20.

Southbound interstate traffic through the heart of the city was jammed for more than five miles, to beyond the Brookwood Interchange, at noon.

Atlanta police spokeswoman Sgt. Lisa Keyes said the package “was disposed of by detonation,” but added: “At this time we are not viewing this as an actual explosive.”

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Atlanta art and antiques appraiser and auctioneer Allan Baitcher (right) takes bids during a 2020 auction. Baitcher and his company, Peachtree Antiques, are being sued by a Florida multimillionaire who says he paid them $20 million for fakes. (AJC 2020)

Credit: Phil Skinner / Staff