Workers remove material from a damaged section of Interstate 95, where a Thursday night tanker truck explosion melted a highway overpass.

BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut (AP) -- Demolition crews were at work Saturday clearing away the wreckage of a partially melted highway overpass to repair a section of one of the nation's busiest highways, which officials said could remain closed for a week or more.

There was no firm answer on when the mile-long section of Interstate 95 would reopen. Nearly 120,000 vehicles a day travel the section of highway between New York and Boston.

The plan to fix the overpass includes bringing in a temporary bridge from New Jersey.

"It's like a big erector set. It's arriving in sections," said state police Sgt. J. Paul Vance.

State police urged all motorists to avoid the area. Gov. John G. Rowland asked commercial truckers from New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts to enter Connecticut on Interstate 84 or not at all. Truckers could be forced to take long detours along I-84 or farther north on the Massachusetts Turnpike.

"The ripple effect likely can go through the whole country," said Bob Costello, chief economist with the American Trucking Association. "It's going to cost businesses money."

On Saturday, workers were demolishing the span carrying the southbound side of the highway, which sagged several feet when its steel beams were softened by a fire caused when a tanker truck full of heating oil crashed.

Crews also were shoring up the adjacent northbound span with temporary supports so it can be used for a limited period to restore traffic flow.

"The northbound side does have to be replaced. But we can use it temporarily," said Art Gruhn, chief engineer for state Department of Transportation.

Installation of the prefabricated bridge on the southbound side was expected to begin on Monday.

Gov. John G. Rowland said Friday the state will receive $11.2 million in emergency federal funding to help get the highway reopened.