The years-long deck replacement project on the westbound Bay Bridge, which the Maryland Transportation Authority had hoped to complete by Memorial Day, fell short of that goal overnight when a grinding machine broke down, an authority spokeswoman said today.

"We were very close and we had a breakdown," spokeswoman Kelly Melhem said.

The authority now plans to close the westbound span of the bridge for one more night next week to complete the remaining work of grinding down the pavement for a smoother surface, Melhem said. The $65 million deck project began in 2006 and has been the cause of regular overnight closings of the westbound bridge since late 2007.

All lanes of the bridge are expected to be open Thursday night and this weekend for Memorial Day travel, she said.