Pali Highway reopened after tank disposed of

Advertiser Staff

Police have reopened Pali Highway after an old acetylene tank found along the highway was disposed of today by explosive ordinance experts.

The highway was closed in both directions from roughly 12:30 to 1 p.m.

The object was reported yesterday, in a gravel clearing along the townbound lanes about 200 yards south of the tunnels. Officials today detonated an explosive charge to puncture the tank, allowing a residual amount of gas to escape, said Terry Corpuz, environmental health specialist with the state Department of Health.

Workers from Donaldson Enterprises, a bomb disposal company, did the work about 1 p.m.

Corpuz said it appeared that someone had recently dumped the tank there. Markings on the tank indicated it was manufactured in 1943.