TOM LATEK, Kentucky Today Nov 15, 2023
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KT) – A full weekend directional closure of the Sherman Minton Bridge, which carries Interstate-64 traffic across the Ohio River between Louisville and southern Indiana, is currently scheduled to begin Friday, November 17, weather permitting.
Westbound I-64 will be closed on or after 10 p.m. on Friday, until 6 a.m. on Monday, November 20. This full directional closure will allow crews to work safely as they implement the traffic shift for Phase 4 of the multi-year project and is the first of several planned closures between now and the end of the year.
Additional directional closures are scheduled as follows:
Westbound I-64 will be closed over the weekend beginning on or after 10 p.m. on Friday, December 1 until 6 a.m. on Monday, December 4. During the westbound I-64 closures, the I-264 westbound to I-64 westbound ramp, just before the bridge, will be closed.
While the westbound directional closure is in place, the suggested alternate route will be I-65 and I-265 (the Gene Snyder Freeway in Kentucky). Regional traffic signs and variable message boards will be posted in the project area well in advance, notifying motorists of the closures and alternate route. Through traffic that bypasses I-65 will not be able to cross the Sherman Minton bridge.
In addition, eastbound I-64 will be closed for twelve days beginning on or after 10 p.m. on Friday, December 8, lasting until 5 a.m. Wednesday, December 20. During the eastbound I-64 closure, the I-64 eastbound entrance ramp from West Spring Street in New Albany, Indiana, will be shut down, along with the I-64 eastbound to I-264 eastbound ramp.
While the eastbound directional closure is in place, the suggested alternate route will be I-265 (known as the Lee Hamilton Freeway in Indiana) and I-65. Regional traffic signs and variable message boards will be posted in the project area well in advance, notifying motorists of the closures and alternate route. Traffic that bypasses I-265 will not be able to cross the Sherman Minton bridge.
This is all part of the Sherman Minton Renewal, a multi-year, major rehabilitation and painting project that will add up to 30 years of life to the 61-year-old double-decker bridge, and is scheduled for competition sometime in 2024.