LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Drivers will face some traffic detours in Old Louisville starting Monday due to a project by Louisville Water.
Louisville Water is replacing a 130-year-old water main at the intersection of Oak and Brook Streets. The intersection and some surrounding blocks were closed off Monday morning.
"I just wish it was kind of more convenient walking wise, but hey, you know got to have water ... so yeah it's very important, " Old Louisville Resident Johnie Gui said.
The water company said the closure is expected to last around five to six weeks. There will be detour signs to navigate drivers around the construction.
Louisville Water is replacing miles of pipe that first went into the ground in the 1890s. This particular main has a history of leaks and breaks, including a massive one in 2017 that flooded an entire neighborhood.
"It was a catastrophic event," Kelley Dearing Smith, with Louisville Water, said. "We had homes that were flooded, streets that were flooded, it was a huge interruption."
The project to address those issues began last summer and isn't expected to wrap up until 2028.
"As we move along through the process, you will see different closures and detours as well," Dearing Smith said.
Louisville Water said the Oak Street project will improve the overall reliability of the water supply for the city and give residents high-quality Louisville Pure Tap®.
To learn more about the project, click here.
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- From the river to your home | A behind-the-scenes look at Louisville Water
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