LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB/WAVE) — The first day of new road closures in downtown Louisville caused major traffic backups near UofL Health and Jewish Hospital Tuesday.
A section of Muhammad Ali Boulevard under I-65, between Floyd and Brook streets, closed Tuesday morning as part of the Interstate 65 Central Corridor project. The nearby section of Brook Street under I-65 also closed. Both are expected to remain closed for the duration of the project.
By Tuesday afternoon, traffic was backed up around the downtown medical district, especially near hospital entrances and parking garages.
Louisville Metro Police was called to Muhammad Ali Boulevard and Floyd Street around 3:45 p.m. after construction crews asked for help directing traffic.
The gridlock made it difficult to get in and out of hospital entrances and parking garages. One UofL Health employee described the traffic as "horrible" and said there were several crashes outside the parking garage.
UofL Health spokesperson David McArthur said it is working with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to resolve the issue, but that patients and employees should leave early and allow extra travel time.
Meanwhile, another closure planned for the area was pushed back.
Broadway under I-65, between Brook and 1st streets, was scheduled to close Wednesday while crews begin demolishing an old overpass. KYTC announced Tuesday evening that the closure would be postponed until later this week at the earliest.
Officials did not say whether Tuesday's traffic problems played a role in that decision.
Once Broadway does close, it's expected to remain shut down until mid-October.
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This all comes about nearly a month after two lanes in each direction of I-65 reopened three days ahead of schedule between downtown Louisville and Interstate 264 after a nearly eight-week shutdown.Â
Several ramps remain closed, including the Preston Street ramp, ramps at Floyd and Magnolia streets on I-65 South, and the Arthur Street ramp at Exit 134.
Project officials said three bridges are still being repaired, with additional overpasses awaiting plans for replacement or rehabilitation. Gov. Andy Beshear said the state does not plan another full shutdown of I-65 for the remaining work, though a final completion date has not been announced.
Future overpass work is expected near Liberty Street, Floyd Street, Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Jacob Street, Chestnut Street, and Muhammad Ali Boulevard at Brook Street, officials said.
Officials are still encouraging through-traffic — especially truck drivers without Louisville destinations — to use posted detours to reduce congestion in the work zone. During the closure, some truck detours led to the "can opener" underpass that has a history of trucks striking the bridge.
The following ramp closures remain in effect:Â
- June 2026 to late 2026
- Preston Street ramp to I-65 North
- Floyd Street/Magnolia Street and Preston Street ramp to I-65 South
- Arthur Street ramp from I-65 South (Exit 134)
- June 2026 to August 2027
- 1st Street/Liberty Street ramp to I-65 South
- June 2026 to October 2027
- Brook Street ramp from I-65 North
- St. Catherine Street ramp to I-65 North
- Preston Highway ramp to I-264 East
- Preston Highway ramp to I-264 North
- Fair/Expo Center Main Gate exit from I-264 East
And these are the surface street closures related to the project:
- September 2025 to March 2027
- Brook Street from St. Catherine Street to Caldwell Street
- Burnett Avenue from Floyd Street to Preston Street
- Hill Street from Floyd Street to Preston Street
- Kentucky Street from 1st Street to Floyd Street
- Permanently closing in July 2026
- The alley between Broadway and Jacob Street under I-65
- Permanently closing in August 2026
- Jacob Street from 1st Street to Brook Street
- August 2026
- Broadway from 1st Street to Brook Street
- August 2026 to October 2027
- Brook Street from Chestnut Street to Muhammad Ali Boulevard
- Muhammad Ali Boulevard from 1st Street to I-65
- September 2026
- Chestnut Street from 1st Street to Brook Street
- September 2026 to October 2026
- Gray Street from 1st Street to Brook Street
For more information on the project, click here.
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