Two-month complete closure of I-65 in Downtown Louisville begins Monday

After more than nine months of preparations, the summer closure of Interstate 65 through downtown Louisville begins next week.

Five miles of I-65 will close between Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) and Jefferson Street in downtown Louisville on Monday, June 1, with a scheduled reopening to traffic on August 1. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Five says the complete closure of the interstate will allow for accelerated work replacing the I-65 bridges over Kentucky and Brook streets, Hill Street, a CSX rail line, and Burnett Avenue, and Bradley Avenue.

The KYTC says the old bridges, which were part of the original construction of the interstate in the 1950s, will be removed and new bridges will be built in their place. Sidewalk improvements and the installation of modernized lighting under the bridges will also be part of the construction work.

Traffic will be detoured to I-264 on the west side of Louisville. 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.

The KYTC says the full closure was determined to be the most cost-effective option, and the full closure will save about a year of work compared to temporary closures. Visit the project website, www.i65centralcorridor.com, for more information.