Bay Bridge Won't Be Open For Monday Morning Drive

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge remains closed for the busy morning commute, but officials say the span likely will re-open later today.

California Department of Transportation spokesman Bart Ney said at a news conference early Monday that workers made significant progress overnight to assure the bridge's safety.

He says final inspections are under way, and that the bridge, which is a critical link for commuters, is likely to re-open late Monday morning or in the afternoon.

The bridge has been closed since last Tuesday after two rods and a crossbar failed, sending 5,000 pounds of metal into traffic.

It is the longest closure since the span was shut down for a month after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.