Five-mile section of I-65 will be closed from June 1 – July 31, saving at least a year of additional traffic restrictions and adding 75 years of service life to each bridge
An ongoing Interstate 65 project that requires a temporary closure beginning June 1 will allow Team Kentucky to make much-needed replacements to three aging bridges along the I-65 corridor, ensuring that the bridges remain reliable and safe for an additional 75 years and preventing at least a year of additional traffic restrictions for the region.
A five-mile section of I-65 between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street) will temporarily close Monday, June 1, and is scheduled to reopen to two lanes of traffic in each direction on Saturday, Aug. 1. The project will improve safety and ensure interstate connectivity for the 125,000 drivers who rely on these bridges each day.
“This is a needed safety measure that has been a long time coming,” said KYTC Secretary Rebecca Goodman. “These bridges have been maintained regularly, but they are at the end of their service life, and it’s time for new ones to be built to ensure these key connections are safe and sound for generations to come. This closure allows crews to work safely and faster with less long-term disruption to the traveling public.”
The $150 million investment for this portion of the project includes replacing the I-65 bridges over Kentucky Street/Brook Street, Hill Street/CSX Railroad/Burnett Avenue, and Bradley Avenue near the fairgrounds. This will ensure long-term reliability and add 75 years of service life to each bridge. Sidewalks will also be reconstructed and improved, and modernized lighting will be installed under and adjacent to the new bridges. Work on the three bridges is expected to be complete in March 2027. Six more bridges will be replaced or rehabilitated as part of the I-65 Central Corridor Project, with substantial project completion expected in late 2027.
“With summer breaks and travel gearing up, we want all Kentuckians to be aware of the work and closure so they can adjust travel plans as needed,” said KYTC State Highway Engineer James Ballinger. “Our crews and contractors have already done a tremendous amount of work under the bridges, and we’re ready to soon move to around-the-clock construction to speed progress on the replacement project.”
Last year, crews began substructure work to replace foundations underneath bridges, which is now nearly complete, and have since worked to widen ramps and travel lanes along detour routes, and have met with local agencies, businesses and the public to keep everyone informed. During the closure, crews will demolish the surface decks of each bridge, set new steel beams in place, and rebuild enough of the new decks of the bridge to reopen to traffic on August 1.
Getting Around During the Closure
Beginning June 1, all through traffic will be detoured to I-264 west (Georgia Davis Powers Expressway) and I-64. The signed detour route uses roadways with the most available capacity, and creates the least traffic impacts. Local street closures and ramp closures will be needed through the end of the project to complete the work along the corridor. Travelers will still be able to access key Louisville destinations like downtown hospitals, the Expo Center, and the Muhammad Ali International Airport.
A two-mile section of southbound I-65 between University Boulevard and the Watterson Expressway is expected to reopen to two lanes of traffic in each direction by July 1, restoring access to four ramps. Beginning Aug. 1, the rest of the five-mile section will reopen with two lanes in each direction. Those restrictions will continue through late 2027.
“Louisville remains open for business during construction and a detour is in place to help travelers get to where they need to go, including coordination with emergency responders,” said KYTC District 5 Chief Engineer Matt Bullock. “As with any major traffic restriction, we know there will be an initial adjustment period for drivers to learn new routes and rhythms before traffic flow stabilizes. We will be closely monitoring traffic and encourage everyone in and out of the area to be prepared ahead of the closure.”
Traveler Tips
Drivers are encouraged to review detour plans, share info with friends and family who plan to visit the area, leave early to add extra time to reach their destinations, and, if possible, consider test-driving detour routes and exploring flexible work arrangements to limit travel during peak times.
During the closure, drivers can check GoKY.ky.gov, or use Waze for real-time traffic information. Drivers can sign up to receive project and traffic updates via email or text messages. Project updates are also shared on KYTC District 5 (D5) Facebook and X pages.
Project information, including detour maps, ramp closures, and FAQs can be found at I65CentralCorridor.com.
