LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Business owners in the Brownsboro Center near Brownsboro Road and Rudy Lane say they are already struggling to attract customers because of the ongoing Brownsboro Road and I-264 lane widening and improvement project.
“Right in this complex, we have four restaurants. One’s closed down now because they weren’t able to survive that initial impact,” said Katherine Aphaivongs-Harrod, owner and head chef of All Thai’d Up.
She said traffic is worst when traveling west to east along Brownsboro Road just before crossing I-264, especially during afternoon rush hour and when Dunn Elementary School dismisses students.
“What we need is some kind of traffic control or police officer during the busier times, or update the light patterns,” Aphaivongs-Harrod said.
Now, business owners are preparing for another major road project in the area this weekend. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews will demolish part of the overpass bridge that carries traffic from I-264 East to I-71 South. As a result, that overpass and two interchanges below it will close from 8 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.
“People are gonna avoid it, period. Why fight the traffic if you don’t have to. We are fortunate that we have a lot of our patrons in the neighborhood, but if it means crossing that intersection, sometimes people say ‘forget it,’” Aphaivongs-Harrod said.
Crews will demolish part of the structure and begin building a new superstructure on the left lane of the overpass bridge. When the bridge reopens Monday morning, it will operate with one lane. Officials say another closure could occur if the right lane also needs to be replaced.
The left lane of the I-264 East to I-71 South overpass bridge has already been closed for some time, and that is the section currently being demolished.
Aphaivongs-Harrod said that even after the weekend closures end, she plans to continue discussions with Mayor Craig Greenberg’s office and the Metro Department of Transportation about possible solutions to traffic bottlenecks along Brownsboro Road.
“It’s really hard on us, and we’ve asked for help,” she said.
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