Closure will save an additional year of construction delays
Team Kentucky is investing in a better Interstate 65 in Louisville by advancing critical infrastructure improvements along the corridor through a planned temporary closure that will allow contract crews to accelerate the replacement of three key bridges. Saturday, March 28 marks 65 days until the Interstate 65 closure this summer.
Five miles of I-65 are scheduled to close between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street) early on Monday, June 1. It’s expected to reopen to traffic on Saturday, Aug. 1. The closure is expected to begin by 12:01 a.m. Monday.
A two-mile section of southbound I-65 is expected to reopen to two lanes of traffic by Wednesday, July 1. It stretches from University Boulevard to the Watterson Expressway (I-264). Reopening this section of roadway will reopen four ramps: Crittenden Drive on and off ramps and the on-ramps from Eastern Parkway and University Boulevard to southbound I-65.
During the closure, the I-65 bridges over Kentucky Street/Brook Street, Hill Street/CSX Railroad/Burnett Avenue, and Bradley Avenue near the fairgrounds will be replaced. All three bridges were constructed in the late 1950’s as part of the original construction of the interstate.
The old structures will be removed, and new bridges will be built in their place. Sidewalks will be reconstructed and improved, and modernized lighting will be installed under and adjacent to the new bridges.
“While ongoing maintenance has kept the bridges open to carry traffic, the structures have served Kentuckians for decades and are at the end of their service life,” said Natalie House-Lewis, KYTC project manager. “Replacing them will provide a safer, more reliable connection for the approximate 125,000 drivers who rely on them daily. With a service life of 75 years, the new bridges will serve the next generation of travelers for decades to come.”
The full interstate closure will greatly accelerate replacing the three bridges. The two-month closure will save more than a year of additional interstate restrictions. In addition to greatly shortening the construction timeline, the temporary closure is the most efficient construction and fiscal approach.
With the closure, crews are able to address three bridges in need of immediate improvements as quickly as possible. The closure also gives contract crews the room they need to work safely and efficiently in the area.
Crews are doing as much work as possible in advance of closing the bridges, including relocating utilities, constructing the substructures, prefabricating bridge deck panels and steel girders, moving supplies on site, and staging equipment.
Getting Around During the Closure
During the closure, through traffic will be detoured to I-264 (Georgia Davis Powers Expressway) on the west side of Louisville. Detour routes were developed based on extensive traffic studies done over the past two years. The signed detour route is the shortest distance, utilizes roadways with the most available capacity, and creates the least traffic impacts.
Traffic accessing downtown Louisville will use the Jefferson Street exit from southbound I-65. Traffic will also be able to access downtown Louisville via I-64.
Traffic leaving downtown will use the ramp from East Liberty Street to access northbound I-65.
Some ramps to and from I-264 (Watterson Expressway) are being temporarily widened to help accommodate additional traffic during the closure. This includes the ramp to southbound I-65 from eastbound and westbound I-264, the ramp from northbound I-65 to eastbound I-264, and the eastbound I-264 ramp to the eastbound I-264 collector distributor near the airport.
What to Expect
A total of nine bridges on the I-65 corridor are being replaced or rehabilitated as part of the project. The first three bridges are those most in need of repair.
When the closure ends, I-65 will be open to two lanes of traffic in each direction. Restrictions will continue through the end of the project. Substantial completion is expected in late 2027.
The closure this summer will save a full year of additional restrictions on the interstate.
Staying Informed
Project information and updates can be found at I65CentralCorridor.com. While on the site, users can sign up to have project and traffic updates delivered to their inboxes or by text to their phones.
Project updates will now be shared on KYTC District 5 (D5) Facebook and X pages. Anyone who followed project updates on the I-65 Central Corridor Facebook or X pages should follow or like the KYTC D5 pages.
