Courtesy-Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Facebook page
LOUISVILLE – Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Wednesday a $150 million construction project to replace three aging bridges in Louisville and ensure that Interstate 65 will support business and travel throughout the region for decades to come.
According to Kentucky.gov, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) said a contract awarded to Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. will replace three bridges on Interstate 65, near downtown Louisville. This is the first phase of the I-65 Central Corridor Project, a bridge replacement/rehabilitation initiative to ensure safe bridges along one of Kentucky’s busiest highways.
Under this contract, Kiewit will replace bridges over Kentucky and Brook streets; Hill Street, a CSX rail line, and Burnett Avenue; and Bradley Avenue. Work will be completed on these bridges by mid-2027.
“On Team Kentucky, we know that better roads and bridges build a better future. We want to ensure our families get where they need to go safely, and we know good roads connect people to good jobs and show companies around the world that we are open for business,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is the first step in getting it done.”
Each of the three bridges is more than 60 years old, rated in poor condition, requires more frequent inspections to ensure they are safe for continued use, and will be fully replaced (including earth embankments, foundations, piers, beams, decks, and pavement).
The project will move forward in three phases:
- Now through June 2026: Work will occur beneath the interstate with minimal impact to traffic
- June and July 2026: A full closure of I-65 between Jefferson Street and the Watterson Expressway will allow for accelerated construction that will save at least a year to construct these bridges
- August 2026: I-65 will reopen to traffic with reduced capacity; KYTC has included significant penalties in the contract to avoid delays
- Fall 2026–Spring 2027: Crews expect to start work on at least three additional bridges; KYTC expects to keep I-65 open with reduced lanes during this phase of construction
“We understand the inconvenience of closing an interstate, so it was important to us to let the public know more than nine months in advance,” KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said. “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.”
