A full closure of Interstate 65 between downtown Louisville and the Watterson Expressway is scheduled for Summer 2026 while crews work on a $150 million project to replace three aging bridges, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Aug. 27.
The I-65 closure from Jefferson Street to Interstate 264 is anticipated to begin in June 2026 “for accelerated construction that will save at least a year to construct these bridges,” a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesperson said in a statement. Traffic from I-65 will be detoured onto westbound I-264 and westbound Interstate 64 through at least July 2026. The I-65 on-ramps at Jefferson Street and Liberty Street-Muhammad Ali Boulevard will remain open during the closure.
Dubbed by transportation cabinet officials as the “I-65 Central Corridor Project,” a contracted crew is expected to replace three highway bridges by “mid-2027.” Those bridges go over:
Kentucky and Brook streets
A CSX rail line near Burnett Avenue
The bridges, officials said, are more than 60 years old and are rated in poor condition, which has required “more frequent inspections to ensure they are safe for continued use.”
Transportation officials anticipate I-65 will reopen with “reduced capacity” in August 2026.
“KYTC has included significant penalties in the contract to avoid delays,” a statement read. “While I-65 will be open starting August 2026, crews will continue work through mid-2027. Drivers should expect some off-peak lane closures and periodic impacts as the project wraps up.”
KYTC awarded a contract to Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., a construction and engineering firm.
Upcoming I-65 construction part of larger project
The work to replace the three bridges marks the first phase of the I-65 Central Corridor Project. Work on “at least three additional bridges,” could start sometime between Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, though construction dates have not yet been finalized, KYTC officials said in the release. The replacement of the three other bridges will likely keep I-65 open with reduced lanes.
Ahead of new roadwork on I-65, KYTC officials said they would provide drivers with detour plans and alternate routes.
“Kiewit will oversee construction as part of a highly collaborated effort with KYTC staff and engineering and design consultants,” cabinet officials stated in the release.
Beshear said the bridge replacements will ensure safety for Kentucky families on the go.
“As a Kentuckian who worked for many years in downtown Louisville, I have driven this I-65 corridor countless times, and I understand the significance of this project,” Beshear said in a statement. “This is the first step in getting it done.”
Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said his staff understands “the inconvenience of closing an interstate,” which is why the project was announced about nine months ahead of the beginning of new work.
“We don’t make this decision lightly, but this option will shrink the construction period considerably to avoid prolonged traffic impacts, and it considers the input of area stakeholders to steer clear of major events,” Gray said. “We’re committed to doing all we can to coordinate all of our construction projects in the region to keep travelers moving as we work to upgrade our transportation network to improve your commute for decades to come.”
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Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Interstate 65 closure 2026: $150 million bridge replacements expected