STOCKTON (CBS13) – A bomb scare brought busy roads in Stockton to a close for about five hours on Thursday.

A device that resembled a PVC pipe bomb, was discovered at around 10 a.m. Thursday under the Waterloo Road overpass over Highway 99. Someone walking in the area found the object and flagged down a sheriff’s deputy.

The device was described as PVC pipe with batteries and wires attached.

Waterloo Road was closed in both directions near the overpass and Highway 99 experienced intermittent closures as law enforcement personnel disabled the device using their own explosives.

Customers and employees at nearby businesses had to be evacuated as a result of the incident.

“Just to think, what if I was driving and it just blows up?” said Cynthia Flores, who was evacuated.

Investigators are analyzing what’s left of the device with the hopes of bringing its maker to justice.

Authorities haven’t said whether or not the device actually contained explosive material.

Visit the CBS Sacramento traffic page for live incident updates on Highway 99.