A Caltrans official is offering a more optimistic estimate for when the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will be open again.

Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney says there is a "possibility" the bridge could open in time for the Friday morning commute.

Ney's comments come about two hours after an official with the state Business, Transportation and Housing Agency said the bridge would not be open by the morning rush hour.

Ney says with crews working through the night, it's possible that the repairs and necessary testing could be completed very early Friday morning.

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Work crews and engineers are conducting emergency repairs after 5,000 pounds of steel came crashing down onto westbound lanes Tuesday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - State transportation officials say the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge won't be open in time for the Friday morning commute.

During a press briefing Thursday evening, Dale Bonner, Secretary of the state Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, said he expected repair work to be completed sometime Friday. But Bonner said additional testing would have to be conducted before the bridge would be open to traffic again.

Work crews and engineers continue to work on emergency repairs through after 5,000 pounds of steel came crashing down onto westbound lanes Tuesday.

The pieces that failed were parts of major repairs done last month after state inspectors discovered a crack in an "eyebar," an important structural beam.