The southbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Bridgeport, CT, could reopen well ahead of schedule as state officials rush to install a temporary bridge, The New York Times reported March 30.

The bridge could be in use as soon as Thursday, April 1. The news came just a day after Connecticut reopened the northbound lanes of I-95.

The bridge was damaged in an accident that took place at 7:45 p.m. March 25 between exits 25 and 26 near Route 8 in which a car struck a jackknifed tanker truck. Roughly 9,000 gallons of home heating fuel created a fire so intense that it melted a portion of the bridge. USA Today reported that a car apparently forced the tanker truck into a concrete barrier on the southbound side of the interstate.

State officials estimated at the time it would be 10 days before the highway is open, but some placed the estimates longer. Now, it appears the repairs – at least temporary ones to reopen the highway – will be completed sooner.

The route is a major East Coast corridor; the section that contained the accident site links the heavily populated New York City and Boston metropolitan areas.

State officials have urged tractor-trailers to avoid the area until the highway is fixed.