Officials say the first days of a major interstate closure could be “rocky,” as about 125,000 drivers are rerouted and traffic is closely monitored.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Officials are warning Louisville drivers to expect a rough start this summer when a major interstate closure begins, as some motorists may not realize the project is underway until they encounter traffic.
During a town hall meeting Tuesday night, Mindy Peterson of Parsons Corporation, a project spokesperson, said many drivers could be caught off guard because not everyone follows the news or regularly checks traffic updates.
They also cautioned that the first few days of the closure will likely be especially difficult.
“It is going to be chaotic though, that is for sure,” said Louisville driver Mel Posey.
Posey said he is actually looking forward to the interstate shutdown for a couple of months since he lives close enough to hear constant traffic.
“Yeah — trucks, everything,” he said.
About 125,000 vehicles travel that stretch of interstate each day. For two months, those drivers will need to use alternate routes through Louisville.
Peterson said traffic issues are expected early in the process.
“That’s why we do anticipate, and full disclosure, that the first few days are going to be rocky,” Peterson said. “It happens any time that you have a significant closure.”
Last week, a WDRB news crew tested a route using a mapping app and found that a drive from downtown Louisville to the airport took about 20 minutes without construction-related traffic.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has partnered with Waze, a navigation app that provides real-time construction and traffic updates from the state. Officials said the first few days of the closure will help determine what traffic strategies work and where adjustments may be necessary.
“The project team will be keeping a very, very close eye on traffic,” Peterson said. “Is the modeling bearing out? Is the traffic diverting in the way that we anticipated? Are there pain points? Are there signal adjustments that may have to be made?”
Officials repeatedly used the term “pain points” during the meeting to describe congestion areas and potential trouble spots where backups could occur.
They also emphasized that keeping semi-trucks and heavy traffic off neighborhood streets and local roads will be a key priority.
“Nothing is going to be 100% foolproof,” Peterson said. “We know that those trucks, we want to divert them in the way that is going to be the most direct for them, keep them off of those local roads. We don’t want the wear and tear on the local roads. We don’t want that congestion.”
The project this summer will focus on three overpasses, which the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet refers to as bridges. Construction is expected to continue into 2027. After that, crews will begin work on six additional overpasses, with the full project expected to run through 2028.
Leave a Reply