Interstate to reopen three days ahead of schedule in the early morning hours Wednesday
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 28, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear was joined by state and local leaders to announce that Interstate 65 in Louisville will reopen to traffic three days ahead of schedule on Wednesday, July 29, restoring two lanes in each direction and marking a major milestone in the I-65 Central Corridor Project. The reopening follows the planned two-month closure to allow crews to accelerate replacing three aging bridges. With travel lanes open, construction will continue as work progresses to complete the project.
“We know how important this corridor is to Louisville, and today we’re excited to reopen it ahead of schedule so families, visitors, businesses and more can get back to their regular commutes,” said Gov. Beshear. “Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to complete this project ahead of time and deliver safer roads and bridges for Kentucky families.”
The full five-mile corridor of I-65 between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street) is expected to be open shortly after 12:01 a.m. early on Wednesday morning. A two-mile section of southbound I-65 between University Boulevard and the Watterson Expressway opened in late June.
“This is great news to see the interstate open ahead of schedule and with so much progress made,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Secretary Rebecca Goodman. “We know an interstate closure has significant impacts on drivers, and we appreciate the patience and flexibility drivers have shown during this closure. The improvements we’re making now will benefit drivers for decades to come.”
Work During the Closure
The I-65 bridges over Kentucky Street/Brook Street, Hill Street/CSX Railroad/Burnett Avenue and Bradley Avenue near the fairgrounds are being replaced. All three bridges were constructed in the late 1950s as part of the original construction of the interstate. Accelerated work during the closure has saved at least a year of additional restrictions and delays on I-65.
“Watching the visible transformation of these three bridges has been truly remarkable as we build new structures that will serve travelers for another 75 years,” said KYTC State Highway Engineer James Ballinger. “In two short months, crews have rebuilt enough of the deck and superstructure to carry four lanes of traffic while crews keep at it to finish work on the three bridges. We’re grateful for everyone’s patience and preparation during construction.”
Crews have set around 70 steel beams and more than 200 precast deck panels. Construction on the three bridges is expected to be complete in March 2027. In addition to replacing the bridges, sidewalks will be reconstructed and improved, and modernized lighting will be installed under and adjacent to the new bridges.
Progress Continues
With reduced capacity on I-65, drivers traveling through Louisville are encouraged to continue to use the signed detour in place to avoid construction. The signed detour route is Interstate 264 (Georgia Davis Powers Expressway) on the west side of Louisville. It utilizes roadways with the most available capacity and creates the least traffic impacts.
“It’s fantastic to know that I-65 will soon open to traffic,” said Matt Bullock, KYTC District 5 Chief District Engineer. “However, it’s important for drivers to note this remains a construction zone. Drivers not stopping in Louisville should still follow the signed detour while local drivers should keep using real-time mapping apps for the best route to use.”
Once four lanes of I-65’s six lanes reopen, the speed limit will be reduced south of CSX to the north end of the project, with barrels and barrier walls used to guide traffic. Some ramps near bridge construction sites will remain temporarily closed. Motorists should use caution.
A total of nine bridges on the I-65 corridor are being replaced or rehabilitated as part of the project. The first three bridges are those most in need of repair. The additional six bridges are the I-65 bridges over Liberty Street, Floyd Street, Chestnut Street, Jacob Street/Broadway/Gray Street, Muhammad Ali Boulevard/Brook Street (known locally as “Hospital Curve”) and the Muhammad Ali Boulevard on-ramp.
The best approach to replacing or rehabilitating those bridges is being identified. It will include a phased approach with lane restrictions in place. An updated timeline for project completion will be available when the approach is final.
Staying Informed
Project information and updates can be found at I65CentralCorridor.com. While on the site, users can sign up to have project and traffic updates delivered to their inboxes or by text to their phones.
Project updates are shared on KYTC District 5 (D5) Facebook and X pages.
###