LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Commuters who normally use a busy stretch of Interstate 71 South will deal with detours this week as a construction project has several miles of the interstate closed through Sept. 26.  

The 10-day closure went into effect Sept. 16 for a construction project on I-71 South between Interstates 265 and 264. The ramps to I-71 South at the I-265 interchange are also closed.

The recommended detour takes drivers off I-71 on to I-265 South, then to Interstate 64 West to I-264 East to get back onto I-71 South.

I-71 CLOSURE -DETOUR MAP 9-16-2022 (1)

Detours are planned during a repaving project on Interstate 71 that will close southbound lanes between I-265 and I-264 for ten days starting from Sept. 16 to 26. (WDRB Image) Sept. 16, 2022 

Drivers on Monday said the interstate closure added approximately a half-hour to their commute. 

"Well I forgot about it for one thing, I went to turn off and you couldn't turn off," driver Sara Keyser said. "I went on down 42, but everybody was going down 42." 

The backups also caused backups along Brownsboro Road, Westport Road and River Road. 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said crews are resurfacing asphalt in the area, and closing all southbound lanes is necessary because the road and shoulder aren't wide enough to add a concrete barrier to divide it between working crews and vehicles.

KYTC chief engineer Matt Bullock said to plan your route and leave early.

"Adding extra time is some good advice," he said. "We know the local people will probably drop off around Brownsboro Road or Westport Road, if they don't need to go all the way to 64. But the regional traffic coming through, of course we want them to stay on the interstate to 265 and 64 back into downtown and do what they need to do."

Drivers who frequently travel south on Interstate 71 will need to prepare for a detour for more than a week.

Northbound lanes will stay open throughout construction. The closure is scheduled to continue through 7 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26.

Other major road closures are happening this weekend in southern Indiana for work on the Sherman Minton Bridge. 

On Sept. 23, crews will shut down the westbound lanes of Interstate 64 on the bridge for the weekend. Anyone going from Louisville to southern Indiana will have to detour using Interstate 65 and Interstate 265.

Crews will be removing paint containment systems and platforms. The lanes will be closed from 10 p.m. that Friday until 6 a.m. the following Monday, Sept. 26. 

Related Stories:

Copyright 2022 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.