TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Traffic Relief Efforts Ahead of
I-65 Central Corridor Project Begin This Week Along I-65 and I-264
Overnight lane and ramp closures needed to prepare summer detour routes
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Feb. 10, 2026) – Overnight ramp and lane closures on Interstate 65 and Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) in Louisville begin this week for preliminary work that will ease traffic congestion months in advance of the I-65 Central Corridor project’s temporary interstate closure this summer.
Starting the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 10, crews will begin work to widen and restripe interstate ramps to increase capacity and improve merge operations that will reduce traffic congestion along the designated detour route. This phase of work is expected to be completed by the end of March. All construction schedules are weather dependent.
Announced last year, five miles of Interstate 65 between Jefferson Street and Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) will be closed June through July 2026, to replace three aging bridges as part of the two-year Central Corridor project to upgrade safety and travel along I-65 in Louisville.
During this two-month closure, I-65 traffic will be detoured using I-264 (Watterson Expressway) and Interstate 64, while on-ramps at Jefferson Street and Liberty Street/Muhammad Ali Boulevard will remain open.
Planned traffic changes that will help improve traffic flow during the detour include:
- Widening the I-264 East off-ramp to increase the capacity of the ramp from one lane to two lanes. This is the first ramp off I-264 East, which leads to I-65 South and connects travelers to the Kentucky Fairgrounds.
- Widening and restriping the existing I-264 East ramp to I-65 South ramp to create a second exit lane and an additional merge lane onto I-65 South.
- Widening the ramp from I-65 North to I-264 East to increase the capacity of the ramp from one to two lanes.
“These improvements are necessary investments in Louisville’s main transportation routes and we’re doing everything we can to keep delays and traffic impacts to a minimum while committing to keep the public informed every step of the way,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Chief District Engineer Matt Bullock.
To support the preliminary traffic mitigation work, contract crews will establish temporary traffic configurations, install concrete barrier walls, restripe pavement and place new signage to prepare the designated detour route for increased traffic volumes during the summer temporary closure. These improvements are intended to enhance traffic flow, improve safety and reduce delays for motorists using the detour. This phase of work is expected to be completed by the end of March, weather permitting.
Overnight traffic impacts in February include:
Tuesday, Feb. 10
- The off-ramp from Northbound I-65 to Eastbound I-264 will be closed from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
Sunday, Feb. 22
- The I-65 South double left lanes will be closed from West Broadway to East Oak Street from 7 p.m. until midnight.
Monday, Feb. 23
- The I-65 South double right lanes will be closed from West Broadway to East Oak Street from midnight until 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Feb. 24.
- The off-ramp of I-65 South to East St. Catherine Street will close at midnight and reopen at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
- The single right lane of I-65 South at West Broadway to East Oak Street will close at 7 p.m. and will reopen at 6 a.m. on Saturday, March 7.
- The off-ramp from I-65 North to I-264 East will be closed from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Tuesday Feb. 24
- The left lane of the on-ramp to I-264 East and I-65 South will be closed from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
All construction dates are subject to change based upon weather conditions. Additional short-term overnight lane and ramp closures are anticipated and will be announced as details are finalized.
The I-65 Central Corridor Project is one of several state highway improvement initiatives in the Louisville Metro area aimed at enhancing the safety and efficiency of roads and bridges to improve travel, increase commerce and support connections for future growth. This project includes the reconstruction of multiple interstate bridges between Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) and downtown Louisville.
While construction on the Central Corridor project will continue over the next two years, the planned two-month closure of I-65 this summer will allow crews to complete a portion of the work more efficiently, reducing the overall construction timeline while improving long-term safety and reliability along the corridor. This fall, crews expect to begin work on at least three additional bridge replacements; however, details are not yet final. The I-65 Central Corridor Project is expected to be complete in 2028.
Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, follow posted signage and allow additional travel time while traffic mitigation work is underway.
The schedule for this work is subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. For the latest project information and updates, visit i65centralcorridor.com, follow @I65CentralCorridor on Facebook and @65CntrlCorridor on X, and sign up for email and text alerts on the project website.
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