Part of I-65 is reopening early- here's what that means for your commute
– 3 min read
Good news for Louisville drivers who've been navigating detours since June 1: a two-mile stretch of southbound I-65 is set to reopen ahead of schedule.
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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced that southbound I-65 from University Boulevard to the Watterson Expressway (I-264) should be open to two lanes of traffic by 6 a.m. Monday, June 29- beating the original deadline by at least two days.
Along with that stretch of highway, four ramps will reopen: both the on- and off-ramps at Crittenden Drive, and the on-ramps from Eastern Parkway and University Boulevard.
"It's great to see that we're not just meeting this key milestone but on track to beat it by at least a couple of days," Transportation Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman said in a statement. "We know how many drivers rely on I-65 every day, and crews are working hard to hit all deadlines."
What's still closed
Don't pack up the detour route just yet. Southbound I-65 between downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street) and University Boulevard remains closed while construction continues. Drivers heading through- not just to those areas- should still use the official signed detour via I-264 west (the Georgia Davis Powers Expressway) and I-64.
“It’s going to be tricky”: Louisville needs to be ready for I-65 closure- right now
Five miles of Louisville’s busiest interstate will be shut down for two months. If you don’t have a plan, you need one. “I’m Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you new here?
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Why is it opening early
Crews have been working around the clock since the full closure began June 1, and demolition work wrapped up last week. Workers are now setting beams and precast deck panels for the new bridges- essentially building the foundation of the future roadway. The early progress at the Bradley Avenue bridge specifically is what's making the Monday reopening possible.
Three bridges are being replaced as part of this project: the I-65 bridges over Kentucky Street/Brook Street, Hill Street/CSX Railroad/Burnett Avenue, and Bradley Avenue near the fairgrounds. All three were at the end of their service life.
The bigger picture
District 5 Chief Engineer Matt Bullock said Monday's milestone should give commuters confidence in the overall timeline. The goal remains reopening the full five-mile section of I-65 to two lanes in both directions by Saturday, August 1.
"That's a deadline we feel very confident in this fourth week of the I-65 closure," Bullock said.
Plan ahead for the Fourth of July
The Independence Day holiday weekend is less than two weeks away, and traffic on detour routes and local streets is expected to be heavy. Crews aren't taking a break- but if you're having out-of-town guests come in for the holiday, make sure they know the closure is still in place and plan their routes accordingly.
The broader I-65 Central Corridor project- which involves replacing or rehabilitating nine bridges total- is expected to run through the end of 2027.
I-65 is closed- and here’s what you actually need to know
It was easy to know this day was coming and still not fully believe it until it arrived. “I’m Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity. Are you new here? Sign up for the free weekly
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