Major traffic shift | Kennedy Bridge ramp to I-64 west closing Tuesday for 4 weeks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Another major traffic challenge for commuters begins Tuesday.

Late Monday afternoon, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced the temporary closure of the ramp from Interstate 65 south to Interstate 64 west. The closure will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18 and run through Monday, Dec. 15.

KYTC said the closure is part of the expansion joint replacement project for the Kennedy Bridge, which carries all southbound I-65 traffic across the Ohio River from Indiana into Kentucky.

Traffic detour

Access to I-64 east and Interstate 71 from the Kennedy Bridge will remain open, but the suggested detour for drivers coming from Indiana into Louisville is to continue across the Kennedy Bridge on I-65 south to Interstate 264 West to reconnect with I-64 west. That's a distance of roughly 18 miles.

Drivers needing to go into downtown Louisville will have to use one of the ramps from I-65 south and navigate from there.

Next phase of the project

After the four-week ramp closure, the next phase the Kennedy Bridge expansion joint project will require closing the left three lanes of I-65 south. KYTC said additional details will be shared when available.

Currently, the right three lanes and right shoulder are closed for the project and are expected to remain closed through December.

The $6.9 million bridge expansion joint project began earlier this year to replace damaged joints for a safer traffic flow on a smooth surface. The joints are part of the bridge deck that allow the bridge to expand and contract with temperature changes. The flexibility prevents cracking and helps the bridge last longer.

Multiple road projects underway

Interstate 71 widening

A two-year, $50 million project to widen and improve Interstate 71 in Louisville started Nov. 17.

The work will add two lanes — one in each direction — along a 2-mile stretch of the interstate between the Interstate 65/I-71 interchange near Frankfort Avenue, to the I-71/Zorn Avenue interchange. That will bring the interstate up to a total of six lanes from four.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said the additional lanes will ease traffic congestion, increase safety and improve efficiency.

River Road closures

The eastbound lanes of River Road between 2nd and 3rd streets closed Monday, Nov. 17, as construction work continues on the new roof for the KFC Yum! Center. This will limit access to Interstate 64 East from River Road. Those closures will remain in place until the project is complete in January.

A separate River Road Project by the Louisville Water Company will continue through 2025 and into 2026. The utility has been installing two new water lines to remove byproducts from the water treatment process. Officials hope to complete most of the construction along River Road from Zorn Avenue to Prospect by next summer.

Interstate 264 widening

The project to widen Interstate 264 at Brownsboro Road has forced rolling roadblocks and loud noise for blasting operations in eastern Jefferson County.

The goal is to improve traffic flow in a rapidly changing area already dogged by congestion and delays, with the work scheduled to occur during the final stages of the adjacent VA medical center construction.

Plans call for making the I-264 Watterson a three-lane interstate in each direction between Westport Road and I-71. On- and off-ramps in the area stand to get extra lanes, including the ramp from I-264 East to I-71 North; the U.S. 42 westbound ramp onto I-264; and the I-264 West ramp to Westport Road.

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