July 09--Streets in the South Loop were reopened after suspicious tanks turned out to be harmless Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
The tanks were discovered shortly after 4 p.m. in a vacant area near 8th Street and Wabash Avenue, according to Larry Langford, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman. The finding spurred a hazardous materials response, Langford said.
Traffic was blocked on Wabash between Balbo Drive and 9th Street, Langford said. In addition, 8th was blocked between Wabash and Michigan Avenue while officials investigated. The scene was cleared after 45 minutes, Langford said.
"They were small tanks used for holding compressed air, but they posed no danger," Langford said. "We discarded the tanks, and everything is fine. Traffic is flowing freely."
