LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Traffic in downtown Louisville is starting to get tricky, as more road repairs take place.
The Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) shut down areas of downtown for various repairs. And some of the traditional detours are not an option, because Metro Public Works has several repaving projects scheduled this week as well.
One of the major projects and closures involves the ramps to and from Interstate 64. The Exit 4 ramp from westbound I-64 to Ninth Street is now closed, part of a larger ramp improvement project to replace aging barrier walls in Jefferson County.
As a detour, drivers can take I-64 West to the 22nd Street exit and follow 22nd Street to Market Street and then Ninth Street.
"The barrier wall is actually the wall that keeps you from driving off the ramp," said Stephanie Caros, spokeswoman for KYTC. "So they're going to be sawing those down and replacing those. And as part of this entire improvement project, we're going to be replacing all the drainage on the ramps. We're also going to be replacing the concrete."
The ramp from Ninth Street to I-64 East has been closed for weeks, and the ramp from Ninth Street to I-64 West will close sometime after 8 p.m. Monday.
As a detour for Ninth Street to I-64 West, drivers can follow the marked signs from Ninth Street to West Jefferson Street to North 21st Street to I-64 West.
"We want to make sure they can get it done before we hit the winter months. We want to make sure it's done before any projects scheduled for next year," Caros said.
KYTC recognizes the frustration the detours create for drivers, but the department hopes getting the work done while most people are still working from home will help.
"This has a major impact," Caros said. "But if there had been a lot more work and a lot more people on the road downtown, it would've had an even bigger impact."
Several streets over from that project, MSD is repairing a sewer pipe under Broadway which is affecting traffic between Brook and Clay streets.
Broadway near Preston
The middle lane has been blocked since last week.
MSD said drivers on South Floyd Street, South Preston Street and South Jackson Street can only make right turns onto Broadway.
There's no word on when the MSD or KYTC projects might finish, but KYTC said the ramp project must be completed by the end of the year. It's possible they could be done sooner.
"It's easy to get extremely frustrated as a driver," said Barbara Sexton Smith, Metro Council District 4. "But I want to say we're packing a lot of progress into a very concise, small area. So my message is be safe, pay attention, and slow down."
Another project along East Broadway is the KYTC bridge repair project, which reroutes all traffic into or out of the Highlands. This project could be complete by the end of October.
Broadway near Floyd
On top of it all, Metro Public Works is repaving the following streets this week in the downtown area:
- E. Breckenridge Street from Barret Ave. to S. 1st Street
- Lampton Street from Preston Street to dead end
- Henry Firpo Street from S. Shelby Street to S. Clay Street
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