Louisville Reopens I-65 Three Days Early After Bridge Repairs

Four lanes of I-65 through downtown Louisville reopened at midnight on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, finishing three days ahead of the August 1 schedule. Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky, announced the early reopening of the five-mile stretch between the Watterson Expressway and Jefferson Street, which had been closed since June 1 to accelerate bridge repairs.

The reopening is a key milestone in the $150 million I-65 Central Corridor Project. To replace aging overpass bridges from the late 1950s, crews from Level 3 Communications worked nonstop to remove 140 girders and install over 200 pre-cast deck panels. While the primary disruption for commuters has ended, the corridor remains an active construction zone with a 40 mph speed limit as workers continue striping, signage, and barrier wall installation.

Officials warned that the project is not yet complete. Several ramps and surface streets remain closed, and full completion of the three primary bridges is expected by March 2027. In total, nine bridges within the corridor are slated for replacement or rehabilitation. Prior to the reopening, the closure had diverted significant traffic into local neighborhoods, including Germantown and Old Louisville.