Rolling Pothole Repairs and Downtown Bridge Work Impact Tuesday Commute

Morning Overview

Commuters across the Louisville metro area should prepare for a busy Tuesday on the roads this February 17. While major interstates remain open, a combination of ongoing bridge rehabilitation and post-winter maintenance is expected to cause localized delays. Highway crews are prioritizing pothole repairs following the recent snowfall, which may result in rolling lane closures during non-peak hours throughout the day.

Interstate and Bridge Updates

The $150 million I-65 bridge replacement project continues to be the primary focus for downtown drivers. In Old Louisville, long-term underpass closures at South Brook and Kentucky Streets, as well as Hill Street and Burnett Avenue, remain in effect. These closures are necessary as crews work on the underside of the I-65 spans. Neighborhood residents and commuters should continue using the established detours, which are expected to remain in place through Spring 2027.

• Kennedy Bridge: The right three lanes and the right shoulder remain closed to support an ongoing expansion joint replacement project. Commuters crossing into Indiana should account for slower traffic patterns on the bridge approach.
• I-264 (Watterson Expressway): Construction at the U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) interchange has shifted traffic to the outside shoulders between Westport Road and I-71. Additionally, the U.S. 42 bridge over the Watterson is reduced to one lane in each direction, which may cause significant backups during the evening rush.

Local Road Closures and Construction

Several key surface streets are seeing major impacts today due to utility and infrastructure work:

• Rudy Lane: The stretch between Brownsboro Road and Merrifield Road is completely closed for a Louisville Water Company main relocation project. This closure is scheduled to remain in place through April.
• KY 1526 (Bells Mill Road): The road remains closed at the Floyds Fork bridge for a superstructure replacement. Drivers are advised to use KY 44 as an alternate route.
• Billtown Road (KY 1819): Reconstruction continues from North of Colonnades Place to south of Easum Road. Expect flagging operations and periodic delays as crews install new traffic signals and turn lanes.
• Blevins Gap Road: A portion of the road near Saw Mill Road remains closed for a culvert replacement project, which is intended to improve drainage in the area.

Public Transit and TARC Alerts

TARC reports that all fixed-route services are currently operating on regular schedules, as previous winter weather detours have been lifted. However, the agency is holding two public meetings today at their downtown headquarters: a Finance Committee meeting at 2:00 p.m. and an Operations Committee meeting at 2:45 p.m. Passengers are also reminded that TARC is currently observing its "Save a Seat" campaign for Black History Month, honoring Rosa Parks with a reserved seat on every bus in the fleet through the end of the week.

Safe Driving Reminder

With maintenance crews performing "pothole blitz" operations across the district today, drivers are urged to reduce speed and provide ample space for highway workers. These rolling operations move quickly but require heightened driver awareness to ensure safety on the interstates.