Kentucky officials are preparing to close two areas of the downtown Louisville interstate until 2016 to construct the Ohio River Bridges Project’s new I-65 bridge.
The largest closure will be the ramp leading from I-64 East to I-65 South, which will shut down to commuters on July 15. The exchange gets around 8,000 vehicles per day, but it’s also the least used ramp in the interchange, says Andy Barber, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s project manager for the Bridges Project. Barber says traffic will be monitored and there will be portable message signs that alert commuters of any delays. He also says the Bridges Project website will soon host live video commuters can access. “So people can get on it when they leave the house and see what kind of backups they could expect as they make their way through the interchange.” The state also plans to reduce traffic to two lanes on I-65 South between the Jefferson Street exit and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, which will reopen in 2016. Here is a list of temporary closures that are coming up: There will be some one-night closures early next week to prepare for the ramp closure: Monday, July 8: o The left lane of I-65 South from the Kennedy Bridge to Muhammad Ali will be closed from 9 p.m. on Monday, July 8 to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9. o The left lane of I-65 North from Muhammad Ali to the Kennedy Bridge will be closed from 9 p.m. on Monday, July 8 to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9. Tuesday, July 9: o The left lane of the ramp from I-64 West to I-65 South will be closed from 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9 to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10. o The right lane of I-65 South at the Jefferson Street exit ramp and the left lane of the exit ramp will be closed from 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9 to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10. (Source: Ohio River Bridges Project)
