LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — What was supposed to be a traffic nightmare in downtown Louisville on Monday turned out to be surprisingly smooth.
Construction work in the notorious “Hospital Curve” corridor of Interstate 65 South wrapped up three days ahead of schedule, allowing traffic on the Kennedy Bridge to flow freely once again — at least for now.
Over the weekend, backups stretched from the Second Street Bridge into Indiana, and drivers across downtown faced long delays. But by Monday, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) confirmed the early completion of the Hospital Curve project — a rare bit of good news for commuters.
Still, not everyone was celebrating.
“If you told me they finished early, I’d be very happy,” Brynn Wimsatt told WDRB. “But I was still inconvenienced — and I can't get my time back.”
KYTC said the contractor was paid about $1 million to replace expansion joints in the Hospital Curve section of I-65 South. That work is now complete — but there's still more to come.
The next phase of the project focuses on the Kennedy Bridge itself, where the right three lanes and shoulder of I-65 South over the Ohio River will remain closed through the end of 2025. The issue? More aging expansion joints in need of repair.
That portion of the project comes with a much bigger price tag — $7 million — and is expected to wrap up by April 2026.
Drivers will still be able to access Interstates 64 and 71 during the construction, but KYTC is warning motorists to stay alert for lane closures and signage, and to expect continued delays during peak hours.
For some, the weekend traffic woes were a reminder to stay patient.
“I think the lesson to be learned is sometimes when we get frustrated, just calm down a minute, take a breath,” said Jody Baum, a downtown Louisville restaurant worker. “It’s important to breathe — and sometimes there's an easy fix to a problem we have.”
There are also plans to make similar repairs on the northbound side of the Kennedy Bridge, though KYTC has not yet released a timeline for that work.
Until then, the message for drivers is clear: Watch for signs, stay cautious, and be prepared for a few more traffic headaches.
Related Coverage:
3 lanes of Kennedy Bridge to stay closed through 2025 for joint replacement project
One lane of I-65 south reopens after weekend construction at Hospital Curve
Drivers were promised a ‘long-lasting’ makeover of the Kennedy Bridge. It didn’t happen.
Lane closures starting on Kennedy Bridge ahead of renovation project
Kennedy Bridge fully reopens several weeks after emergency repairs to expansion joints
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