I-65 in Louisville to reopen ahead of schedule, governors says
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Interstate 65 in Louisville is expected to reopen to traffic three days early this Wednesday, July 29, officials say.
That’s according to a release Tuesday by Gov. Andy Beshear’s office, which states two lanes of the interstate will be restored in each direction as part of the I-65 Central Corridor Project.
The reopening follows a planned two-month closure to speed up work on three aging bridges, officials say.
With travel lanes open, construction will continue as work progresses.
“We know how important this corridor is to Louisville, and today we’re excited to reopen it ahead of schedule so families, visitors, businesses and more can get back to their regular commutes,” said Beshear. “Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to complete this project ahead of time and deliver safer roads and bridges for Kentucky families.”
The full five-mile corridor of I-65 between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street) is expected to be open shortly after 12:01 a.m. early on Wednesday morning. A two-mile section of southbound I-65 between University Boulevard and the Watterson Expressway opened in late June.
“This is great news to see the interstate open ahead of schedule and with so much progress made,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Secretary Rebecca Goodman. “We know an interstate closure has significant impacts on drivers, and we appreciate the patience and flexibility drivers have shown during this closure. The improvements we’re making now will benefit drivers for decades to come.”
Work During the Closure
The I-65 bridges over Kentucky Street/Brook Street, Hill Street/CSX Railroad/Burnett Avenue and Bradley Avenue near the fairgrounds are being replaced. All three bridges were constructed in the late 1950s as part of the original construction of the interstate. Accelerated work during the closure has saved at least a year of additional restrictions and delays on I-65.
Construction on the three bridges is expected to be complete in March 2027. In addition to replacing the bridges, sidewalks will be reconstructed and improved, and modernized lighting will be installed under and adjacent to the new bridges.
Progress Continues
With reduced capacity on I-65, drivers traveling through Louisville are encouraged to continue to use the signed detour in place to avoid construction. The signed detour route is Interstate 264 (Georgia Davis Powers Expressway) on the west side of Louisville. It utilizes roadways with the most available capacity and creates the least traffic impacts.
Once four lanes of I-65’s six lanes reopen, the speed limit will be reduced south of CSX to the north end of the project, with barrels and barrier walls used to guide traffic. Some ramps near bridge construction sites will remain temporarily closed. Motorists should use caution.
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. The additional six bridges are the I-65 bridges over Liberty Street, Floyd Street, Chestnut Street, Jacob Street/Broadway/Gray Street, Muhammad Ali Boulevard/Brook Street (known locally as “Hospital Curve”) and the Muhammad Ali Boulevard on-ramp.
An updated timeline for project completion will be available when the approach is final.
