Kentucky Plans Full I-65 Louisville Shutdown for $150M Bridge Replacement in 2026

Kentucky officials have announced a $150 million project to replace three aging bridges along Interstate 65 in Louisville, requiring a full closure of the interstate between Jefferson Street and the Watterson Expressway during June and July 2026. The bridges over Kentucky and Brook Streets; Hill Street, a CSX rail line and Burnett Avenue; and Bradley Avenue are over 60 years old and in poor condition, necessitating full replacement to ensure safety and support regional travel and business. The closure will allow accelerated construction, saving at least a year on the project timeline, with traffic detoured via I-264 West and I-64 West. I-65 is expected to reopen with reduced capacity in August 2026, but lane closures and other impacts will continue through mid-2027 as work wraps up. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet awarded the contract to Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., and officials emphasized that the closure decision considered stakeholder input and aims to avoid major event conflicts. Additional bridge replacements in the corridor are planned but dependent on future funding.