I-65 closure in Louisville begins in 65 days for major overpass project

Crews will replace aging overpasses between Watterson and Jefferson Street, affecting downtown traffic through 2027

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — In 65 days, Interstate 65 will fully close through the heart of downtown Louisville.

Although the roadway will remain shut for two months, construction in the area will continue much longer.

The 5-mile stretch of I-65 will close from June 1 through Aug. 1. However, the overall project is not expected to be completed until the end of 2027, meaning lane closures will continue for nearly two years.

During the shutdown, crews will replace overpasses between the Watterson Expressway and Jefferson Street in downtown Louisville.

Three bridges built in the 1950s are in poor condition and will be replaced first, while six additional overpasses will either be replaced or rehabilitated.

As part of the $150 million first phase of the I-65 Central Corridor Project, three overpasses will be demolished and rebuilt.

Once the full closure ends, only two lanes of traffic will reopen in each direction, and work will continue until late 2027.

“When you’re talking about the late ’50s, early ’60s, that’s when much of the interstate was built. These bridges were constructed during that same period,” said Mindy Peterson, a spokesperson for the I-65 Central Corridor project. “You can maintain them over the years, but eventually they reach the end of their service life. That’s where we are now—they need to be replaced.”

Traffic will be detoured onto Interstate 264 through west Louisville. The closure is expected to affect anyone traveling downtown, as tens of thousands of drivers use this stretch of highway each day.