News Item #1606

With the interstate open again, work shifted to replacing bridge superstructures over downtown streets. The Muhammad Ali Boulevard/South Brook Street underpass closed in late August and immediately caused hour-long backups near the hospitals, so the planned Broadway underpass closure was postponed a few days. The University of Louisville turned part of Muhammad Ali Boulevard into a two-way street to keep its parking garages reachable. Broadway eventually closed but reopened weeks ahead of its mid-October target. When it did, Jacob Street under I-65 closed permanently to ease traffic from the Broadway off-ramp. Gray Street under I-65 closes Oct. 5 through late November.

In late June, WAVE reported that contracts as drafted called for a second full I-65 shutdown in summer 2027, from just after the Kentucky Derby through late August (northbound would stay closed until mid-October), to replace six more bridges, including one near Hospital Curve. Traffic would be allowed as far north as Broadway that time. A KYTC spokesperson said Jefferson County residents "should not have to endure two closures in two years" and that the governor intends to push the closure further into the future.

Sources:

• WBKO/WAVE: Second I-65 shutdown being planned for next summer 
• WLKY: Downtown Louisville underpasses latest closures with I-65 Central Corridor project 
• WLKY: Downtown road closure, part of I-65 work, postponed as another causes traffic problems 
• WLKY: Broadway under I-65 in downtown Louisville to reopen early