 Pictured from top left to bottom right: Senior Equipment Manager Kim Williams cleans around Churchill Downs before festivities get underway. Justin Domek and Tim Burba, with Signs and Markings, put up temporary "No Parking" signs for Derby events. Jeff Westenhofer and Dale Goss, with Electrical Maintenance, are seen setting up power for an event at Waterfront Park (picture from 2024) and our Roads and Operations division blocks streets to enhance crowd safety.
The Kentucky Derby, and events leading up to it, attract tens of thousands of locals and visitors each year. While the race, hats and mint juleps steal the spotlight, there are crews working tirelessly behind the scenes who play a crucial role in ensuring safety, sanitation and that things run smoothly.
Public Works teams are integral to the success of Kentucky Derby events. For instance, Public Works is responsible for managing road closures, detours and signage for an estimated 150,000 people who descend on Churchill Downs to watch "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports".
During all Derby-related events, our signs and markings division installs and removes nearly 8,000 "No Stopping/Special Event" signs. In addition, our roads and operations crews block intersections with those big orange trucks to help with traffic flow and to keep routes to and from events safe. Our electrical maintenance teams provide their expertise by programming traffic signals, upgrading lighting and setting up temporary electrical systems for events like the Derby Festival miniMarathon & Marathon, Chow Wagon and Fest-a-Ville, the Pegasus Parade, Thurby, Oaks and Derby.
Additionally, our solid waste management crews address environmental concerns, like maintaining cleanliness, reducing health hazards and minimizing the carbon footprint from events. The collection numbers are still coming in for this year's celebrations; but for 2024's Oaks and Derby festivities alone, crews collected nearly 30 tons of waste.
These types of services are the backbone of any large-scale event that helps create a safe, seamless and positive experience for attendees. Thank you to all of our crews for the work you do to keep the city moving and clean!
The following facilities will be closed at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 2 and all day Saturday, May 3 due to Oaks and Derby:
- Staffed recycling locations
- Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Hwy.
- Central Government Center, 7201 Outer Loop
- East District Public Works, 595 N Hubbards Ln.
- Waste Reduction Center, 636 Meriwether Ave.
- HazBin, 7501 Grade Ln.
For more information about drop-off locations, visit Louisvilleky.gov/RecycleMap.
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 Next month (May) is National Bike Month and it wouldn't be complete without Bike to Work Day.
Join us Friday, May 16, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. for National Bike to Work Day. Bike Louisville will host group rides from five "Meet & Ride" locations. Each group will be led by experienced volunteer ride captains. The rides will depart at 7:30 a.m. and will end downtown at The Plaza on Fourth (222 S. 4th St.) for coffee, donuts and prizes. Groups will meet back at the plaza at 5:30 p.m. for return rides.
Help celebrate healthy and sustainable active transportation by taking part in the city-wide ride.
Follow the link below to register and view the route maps for each ride.
 Right on time for spring cleaning, the next Pop-Up Drop-Off event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 at Sun Valley Park and Ashby Lane Baptist Church.
Drop off shoes, electronics, medication and documents to be shredded at Ashby Lane Baptist. Large items, scrap metal, household recyclables, tires and yard waste will be collected across the street from the church at Sun Valley Ball Park. You may have to visit both sites.
The event on April 5 was cancelled due to weather and has been rescheduled for May 31 at UofL's Shelby Campus. Learn more about these events at Louisvilleky.gov/PopUps. Get reminders for them through our Recycle Coach app!
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The Waste Management District would like insight into Louisville residents' opinions on the effects, prevalence, and consequences of littering, and litter prevention and abatement efforts. Please take this 5-minute survey about litter in Louisville.
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Weather permitting, here are upcoming paving projects:
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Council District 2
- Sherlock Way from Mandeville Rd. to Fegenbush Ln.
- Fern Valley Pass from Poplar Level Rd. to Fern Valley Rd.
- Garda Dr. from Lagoona Dr. to Ailanthus Trl.
- Balaton Dr. from Lagoona Dr. to Ailanthus Trl.
- Aral Dr. from Lagoona Dr. to Ailanthus Trl.
- Caspian Dr. from Lagoona Dr. to Ailanthus Trl.
- Samara Dr. from Lagoona Dr. to Ailanthus Trl.
- Plane Tree Dr. from Lagoona Dr. to Ailanthus Trl.
- Ailanthus Trl. from Garda Dr. to Plane Tree Dr.
- Lodema Way from Indian Trl. to end
- Shasta Trl. from Unseld Blvd. to Exeter Ave.
Council District 13
- Noltemeyer Wynde from Outer Loop to Lipps Ln.
Council District 24
- Monaco Dr. from Woodhill Ln. to Rossmoor Dr.
- Dreamers Way from Lea Ann Way to Monaco Dr.
- Lea Ann Way from Barnes Dr. to paving joint north
- Barnes Dr. from Mary Laverne Dr. to end
- Rossmoor Dr. from Lea Ann Way to Monaco Dr.
- Rossmoor Dr. from Lea Ann Way to Dittmar Dr.
- Dittmar Dr. from Glenna Way to end
- Glenna Way from Dana Lynn Way to Dittmar Dr.
- Dana Lynn Way from Glenna Way to Rossmoor Dr.
- Dougy Way from Glenna Way to end
- Innsbruck Way from Sherlock Way to end
- Mandeville Rd. from dead end to Port Antonio Rd.
- Mandeville Ct. from Mandeville Rd. to end
- Montego Bay Rd. from Mandeville Rd. to end
Council District 25
- Cardinal Hill Rd. from Palatka Rd. to end
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Serve the Louisville community through a rewarding public service career! The Department of Metro Public Works & Assets is currently hiring.
IMPORTANT! The link below is for all of Metro jobs currently open. To learn about career opportunities specifically in Public Works, once you've clicked the link, follow these three easy steps:
- Click the filter tab
- Click "Departments"
- Click "Public Works" on the dropdown menu
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/louisvilleky
To receive automatic waste collection reminders and real-time notifications, download Recycle Coach, our waste information and calendar app at the App Store or on Google Play.
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