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Greetings District 16 neighbors and especially parents,
I hope everyone had a long enjoyable summer break. Tomorrow JCPS starts, and many families will adjust into their school routines. This year, with KYTC’s construction projects at I-264 at KY22 and the Louisville Water Company’s River Road construction, I anticipate that congestion will be especially difficult around Dunn Elementary, Ballard High School and I-264 at KY22. Just like you, I travel these streets daily and I am exceedingly frustrated with long commutes and detours.
To help reduce the back-to-school rush hour congestion my office has been in communication with KYTC, Louisville Water Company, the Mayor’s office and LMPD. Traffic signal operators from KYTC will be tweaking signal timing along this stretch. They will be monitoring the traffic during the morning and evening rush hours. They will also be installing painted boxes on the pavement which means a vehicle cannot be stopped in this area. LMPD has been asked to enforce these boxes.
Lastly after working with suburban cities and HOAs surrounding schools, we have asked police to help monitor side streets to protect pedestrians. Please be mindful of walkers, respecting all approaches to intersections and avoid speeding on cut through streets.
In the past, I have experienced the most challenging traffic during the first week back with visible improvements coming by the end of the next week. I am doing all that I can to proactively help address congestion. I will be driving this corridor and monitoring traffic around our schools.
My office will continue to communicate needed adjustments with KYTC and Louisville Water Company.
It is an honor to serve.
Scott Reed
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Aug. 5, 2025) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) advises motorists of overnight closures of Interstate 264 West (Watterson Expressway) in Louisville beginning Wednesday, Aug. 6, as part of the $130 million improvement project of I-264 and U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road).
Scheduled traffic impacts, including dates and times, are listed below. Beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, to 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7:
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I-264 West traffic will be diverted via the U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) off-ramp at Exit 22. Drivers will cross U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) and rejoin I-264 West via the on-ramp located on the opposite side of the existing interchange.
Beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, to 6 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8:
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I-264 West traffic will be diverted via the U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) off-ramp at Exit 22. Drivers will cross U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) and rejoin I-264 West via the on-ramp located on the opposite side of the existing interchange.
Motorists should use caution, heed signage, and allow extra travel time during the scheduled closures. The highway improvement project is expected to be completed by the Fall of 2027. More details, including project timelines and traffic impacts, will be shared online as work progresses. Motorists are encouraged to sign up for email alerts regarding weekly traffic impacts pertaining to the project.
The I-264/U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) interchange will be reconstructed to a single-point urban interchange (SPUI). A single-point urban interchange (SPUI) is a grade-separated highway interchange where a single signalized intersection controls traffic flow.
The design allows for left-turning vehicles coming from opposing directions to turn simultaneously, without crossing paths. This enhances safety by reducing the number of places where vehicles cross paths and improves efficiency by allowing more vehicles to drive through the intersection during a signal cycle.
The SPUI (pronounced SPOO-EE) can be designed as an overpass or an underpass. It consists of:
- one signalized intersection,
- a main road, and
- four freeway ramps that all begin or end at the single, signalized intersection.
In a SPUI, traffic signals at the main intersection guide all left-turning and straight-forward moving vehicles. Vehicles turning right are guided by stop or yield signs, away from the main intersection.
SPUIs are also known as:
- Urban Interchanges
- Single Point Interchanges (SPI)
- Single Point Diamond Interchanges (SPDI)
 Benefits of SPUI:
- Enhanced safety – vehicles cross paths at only one location within a SPUI, which reduces the risk of potential vehicle crashes as compared to a conventional intersection.
- Increased efficiency— traffic signals at SPUIs operate in three phases as opposed to four phases at conventional interchanges, which increases “green light” times and reduces delays.
- Increased capacity – the SPUI design allows for left turns to occur simultaneously and at higher speeds, which increases the number of vehicles that can travel through the intersection.
- Fewer traffic signals – the SPUI channels traffic into one intersection, as opposed to two intersections like in a conventional interchange. Fewer intersections mean fewer traffic signals, which also means fewer delays for drivers.
- Reduced right-of-way impacts – SPUIs have a smaller footprint than conventional interchanges, which reduces the impact on the environment and nearby businesses and residences.
Additional information on single-point urban interchanges here.
Widening of I-264 and U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road)
I-264 (Watterson Expressway) will be widened from two lanes in each direction to three lanes in each direction from mile point 21.1 to mile point 22.7 (from KY 1147/Westport Road to the I-264/I-71 interchange).
U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) will be widened from Rudy Lane to Glenview Avenue.
Bridge Reconstruction
The project includes reconstructing the U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) bridge over I-264 to accommodate the increased highway capacity. Additionally, the bridge carrying the I-71 southbound ramp from I-264 over the I-71 northbound and southbound ramps will be widened to accommodate the widening of I-264 (Watterson Expressway).
Project Development Phase and Public Input
Additional information on the Project Development phase, including public input, planning, design, environmental review, and funding allocation here.
Phasing Information for Construction
Construction will be completed in multiple phases over a three-year period. Specific details regarding traffic impacts are listed online and shared via a weekly update.
- Phase 1A – Preliminary Work:
Nightly lane closures (traffic reduced to one lane) | 9 p.m. – 5 a.m.
- Milling of all existing rumble strips on the outside shoulders on I-264 between Westport Road and I-71
- Setting barrier walls for shifting traffic to the outside shoulders to work in the middle lanes
- Two 11-foot lanes will be maintained during all construction phases
- Removal of median on U.S. 42 bridge
- Phase 1: (July 2025 Through January 2026)
Daily/nightly lane closures during non-peak travel times and weekend work are to be expected
- Continue with the removal of the median on the U.S. 42 bridge
- Southbound Rudy Lane will be reduced to one left turn lane (from its current two-lane configuration)
- Northbound KY 22 at the intersection of U.S. 42 curb to be removed, and the remaining northbound lane to be converted to a left-thru-right turn lane.
- Striping removal to construct temporary striping
- Eastbound U.S. 42 will be reduced to one lane through Rudy Lane
- Westbound U.S. 42 will be reduced to one through lane with the right lane signed as a right turn only to the eastbound I-264 ramp
- Traffic on the U.S. 42 bridge will be shifted to the south side to accommodate bridge demolition
- I-264 on-ramps from U.S. 42 will be reduced to one lane to accommodate a reduction in turn lanes
- Phase 2/3: (July 2025 Through June 2026)
Daily/nightly lane closures during non-peak travel times and weekend work are to be expected
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Nightly closures of I-264 are to be anticipated for the demolition of the U.S. 42 bridge over the interstate.
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Traffic will be shifted to the outside shoulders on I-264 from Westport Road to I-71.
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U.S. 42 bridge will be reduced to one thru lane in each direction during the reconstruction/widening of the bridge.
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Work will begin on the I-71 northbound and southbound ramps.
- Future Phases: (June 2026 through Project Completion/Fall 2027)
- Future construction phasing Information will be added as the contractor finalizes schedules and work progresses beyond Phase 3.
- The overall project is anticipated to be completed by the Fall of 2027.
I-264 West traffic will be diverted via the U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) off-ramp at Exit 22. Drivers will cross U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) and rejoin I-264 West via the on-ramp located on the opposite side of the existing interchange.
 For the week of August 4
Zone 2 UPDATES (River Road between Blankenbaker Lane and Lime Kiln Lane): We’ll take a break from pipe work on River Road during August. We will continue restoration and paving from Boxhill Lane to Lime Kiln Lane.
We will have a new active construction zone this week on Transylvania Avenue near the intersection with River Road. See the map below for details. A temporary gravel access road off Mayfair Avenue allows residents and delivery trucks to access Transylvania Avenue and Mason Boulevard.
 Click the map for a larger image.
 Work in Zone 2 is expected to last approximately three to six months. The entire project will continue through this year and into 2026. Our goal is to finish most of the work on River Road by next summer.
Project Webpage
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For further information on Councilman Scott Reed or District 16 please visit www.louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-16
You can also reach out directly by phone at 502.574.1116 or by email at scott.reed@louisvilleky.gov.
601 West Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
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