Demolition begins at Louisville’s former Givaudan plant after 2024 explosion killed two workers

Work is set to start Jan. 19 at the Clifton site where a 2024 industrial blast halted operations

Demolition is scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 19, at the former Givaudan Sense Colour facility in Louisville’s Clifton neighborhood, more than a year after a deadly explosion damaged the plant and surrounding properties. A wrecking permit has been issued, and crews are expected to stage equipment and begin dismantling remaining structures at the site.

The demolition plan calls for work hours generally between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with potential Friday or weekend work depending on weather and progress. Site operators have outlined dust-control measures that include particulate monitoring along the fence line, visual checks, and misting when conditions require it. The work is anticipated to last about 40 days.

• Planned hauling route: Payne Street to Spring Street, then Lexington Road to Grinstead Drive, merging onto Interstate 64.
• Dust controls: perimeter particulate monitoring, visual inspections, and misting as needed.
• Timeline: approximately 40 days, subject to weather and site conditions.

What investigators have established so far

The explosion occurred on Nov. 12, 2024, during production of caramel food coloring in a batch reactor. Two employees were fatally injured and others were hurt. The blast sent metal debris beyond the facility’s fence line, and a shelter-in-place order was issued for residents within a one-mile radius. The plant ceased operations afterward.

Federal investigators have reported that the reactor’s automated vent valve—intended to control pressure—was found nearly closed after the incident and is being examined as part of the ongoing inquiry. Subsequent federal testing on representative samples of the material processed that day confirmed the potential for a hazardous runaway reaction capable of producing rapid increases in pressure and temperature consistent with an explosion scenario. The investigation remains open, and a final report and safety recommendations are pending.

Enforcement actions and broader scrutiny

Separate state-level workplace safety reviews have described earlier indications of pressure-control problems at the facility, including a prior over-pressurization event involving the same equipment later implicated in the 2024 blast. In addition, state building and inspection records have raised questions about whether a required permit and inspection were in place for the installation of the cooker that later failed; records show an installer was fined in connection with alleged violations related to permitting requirements. Officials have noted that certain inspection-related violations can carry criminal penalties under state law.

What comes next for the property

As demolition begins, Louisville officials and neighborhood representatives are also weighing long-term land-use options for the site. Discussions have included changes that would limit future heavy industrial uses in the area. For now, demolition is the most immediate step, while multiple investigations continue to examine the chain of events that led to one of Louisville’s most disruptive industrial accidents in recent years.

If your home or business is near the site, city and contractor updates on work hours, dust controls, and truck routing are expected as demolition proceeds.