Louisville commuters, the two-way closure of Interstate 65 in the heart of the city has arrived.
The closure from Jefferson Street downtown to the Interstate 264 interchange is part of an effort to replace three aging bridges along five miles of I-65 and will force traffic to detour onto either westbound I-264 or westbound Interstate 64 until Aug. 1. While rehabilitation work on I-65 will continue in Louisville into 2027, shutting down north and southbound lanes will allow for “accelerated construction that will save at least a year to construct these bridges,” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials said.
Until the highway reopens, drivers will not have access to the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport or the Kentucky Exposition Center via I-65 and drivers are strongly encouraged to take alternate routes.
The I-65 Central Corridor Improvement Project is not the only major construction work Kentucky officials are overseeing during Summer 2026, as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge, and part of Interstate 71 and the Watterson Expressway will also see lane closures as times while I-65 is closed. Surface streets, including sections of Main Street and River Road, are also expected to see roadwork during the summer months.
If the I-65 closure is impacting your routine, here is what you need to know:
Why is I-65 closed in Louisville?
The three bridges Kentucky has ordered to replace were installed during the original construction of I-65 in Louisville during the 1950s, officials have said. Those bridges are over:
Kentucky officials have said areas of some of the bridges are “too narrow” for traffic to be shifted to one side while crews are working on the other, which makes the complete closure of the roadway easier to manage.
The new bridges are intended to have a lifespan of up to 75 years.
How long will I-65 be closed in Louisville?
All north and southbound lanes of I-65 will be closed from Jefferson Street to the interchange with the Watterson Expressway closed June 1 at 12:01 a.m. Two I-65 southbound lanes from University Boulevard to I-264 are anticipated to reopen July 1. The rest of the corridor is expected to open to two lanes in each direction by Aug. 1.
Construction work was contracted to to Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., a construction and engineering firm. In the event delays in the construction schedule push back the planned reopening dates, KYTC officials have said “significant penalties” included in the contract would be assessed.
Where can I receive traffic updates for the I-65 Central Corridor Project?
Updates on I-65 closures and openings are sent by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet via emails and text messages, which drivers can sign up online to receive. Information is also posted to to the Facebook and X pages for KYTC District 5.
How much will the I-65 Central Corridor Project cost?
It will cost $150 million to replace the three bridges at the heart of the I-65 closure for Summer 2026. Officials said there are plans to replace six additional I-65 bridges through 2027, which will bring the total cost for the project to about $370 million. There no plans to shut down I-65 in both directions after Aug. 1.
The six other bridges set to be replaced through 2027 are over:
Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@usatodayco.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Interstate 65 in Louisville is closed in both directions. Here’s why
Reporting by Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal / Louisville Courier Journal
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