With 100 days remaining until the temporary shutdown of Interstate 65 in Louisville, crews with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will begin preliminary work on Feb. 24 that could bring month-long traffic disruptions, according to a Feb. 20 release.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24, southbound lanes of I-65 will narrow from three lanes to one just south of the Interstate 64, I-65 and Interstate 71 interchange — locally known as Spaghetti Junction — until 6 a.m. Feb. 25. From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through March 25, the interstate will reopen with two lanes. The southbound I-65 off-ramp to East St. Catherine Street and the on-ramp from South First Street near East Jacob Street will also close from Feb. 25 through March 25.
Officials said the closures will help accelerate construction near Brook Street. During the lane reductions, crews will complete micropiling work to strengthen and increase load-bearing capacity for the new bridge over Kentucky and Brook streets. Motorists are urged to plan ahead, follow posted signs and allow extra travel time while the work continues.
The $150 million I-65 Central Corridor project, announced by Andy Beshear in late August, will replace three aging Louisville bridges — one over Kentucky and Brook streets; one over Hill Street, a CSX rail line and Burnett Avenue; and one over Bradley Avenue. To keep the project on schedule, I-65 will close for two months in summer 2026.
Crews began widening and restriping ramps in early February to increase capacity and improve merging along detour routes, the release said. Officials expect to complete that work by the end of March.
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