Drivers face delays on 2nd Street Bridge as road construction projects halt traffic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Construction projects in the heart of downtown Louisville are causing traffic troubles for drivers who take the Clark Memorial Bridge into the city.

People who use the bridge, also known as the 2nd Street Bridge, said the backups are causing their drives to take up to 40 extra minutes. The headaches are far from over with more summer construction projects lined up.

"Traffic is crazy right now," said Emma Santiago, who drives over the bridge daily. "It went from 10-15 minutes to easily 35 minutes now."

It's a waiting game no one is eager to play. Drivers get on the bridge and come to a stop just as soon as they start. They then wait alongside other drivers desperate to get to work, school or the store.

"To Clarksville, it was backed up pretty well," driver Eric Korte said.

But when they finally make it to the other side, there's another roadblock.

"You're like, why haven't these cars moved up faster," Santiago asked.

There isn't construction directly blocking the lanes, but the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is upgrading traffic lights throughout downtown Louisville, with cones and caution tape up around Main Street.

Crews are converting the stretch of road from one-way traffic to two-way traffic as part of the $5.4 million Main Remade project.

Drivers stuck on the bridge shared their frustrations Friday morning.

"It's very hard when there's stuff going on with the bridges, for sure," Linda Gordon said.

But the headaches won't stop anytime soon, as the 2nd Street Bridge will likely serve as an unofficial detour once Interstate 65 shuts down June 1.

"I can't imagine what it's getting ready to look like," said Gordon.

The I-65 Central Corridor Improvement Project will close a large stretch of the interstate between the Watterson Expressway and downtown Louisville to replace aging bridges along the interstate.

The full I-65 shutdown will begin June 1 and is expected to fully reopen by Aug. 1. To learn more about the project or to follow along for updates, click here.

In light of the traffic woes that aren't letting up anytime soon, drivers are left considering other options, such as walking to work or taking the Sherman Minton Bridge.