Westport Road Interchange, Revive-65 Complete

by Stephanie CrosbyThe new Westport Road interchange off the Watterson Expressway is open today. Part of a $47-million project, the new interchange is the first added to the Watterson since it was expanded to I-71 in the 70’s.Governor Steve Beshear’s Chief of Staff, Adam Edelen says it’s been a project many Louisvillians have looked forward to for years.“It’s going to be greatly beneficial in relieving congestion not just on Westport Road, but on Shelbyville Road and Brownsboro Road," saya Edelen, "and by the time the entire project is completed, Westport Road itself will be five lanes wide from Hubbards Lane to Hurstbourne Parkway, a distance of 4.3 miles.”State and federal highway officials also celebrated today the completion of the Revive 65 project. That $35.5-million project repaved three miles of I-65 between the Watterson and Fern Valley Road.Edelen says it’s a long-term fix for a portion of road that had become dangerous.“We have what the transportation cabinet believes is a 20 year fix, something we don’t often have in government," says Edelen. "Meaning it should be 20 years before this stretch of roadway needs anything over than routine maintenance. It’s a good value for the taxpayers and it’s a great deal for the people whose jobs depend upon able transportation.”Eighteen-million dollars of the project was paid for with federal stimulus funds.