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I‑65 downtown corridor reopened early after accelerated bridge replacements, officials say
Summary
State highway officials told the committee the five‑mile I‑65 downtown closure to replace three bridges opened to two lanes each way three days ahead of schedule; Kiewit is the prime contractor and six more nearby structures are planned for rehabilitation or replacement.
State Highway Engineer James Ballinger and Chief District Engineer Matt Bullock updated the committee on accelerated bridge work in the downtown Louisville corridor. Ballinger said the five‑mile closure, which began June 1 to allow accelerated replacement of three bridges, reopened to two lanes in each direction on July 29—"That was actually 3 days, ahead of the schedule"—and the approach saved more than a year of additional restrictions for those structures.
Officials described project methods (single‑span replacements for long‑term reduced maintenance), showed recent drone photos of the work and said Kiewit is the prime contractor; Ballinger said roughly 250 contract workers were on site during the closure. The next phase will include six additional bridges north of the current work; officials said traffic phasing and contractor coordination will determine timing for that phase and that some work will continue through the following spring.
Members asked about material specifications and service life; Ballinger said epoxy‑coated rebar is the standard and that stainless rebar has been evaluated but often represents diminishing returns relative to cost. Committee members urged continued attention to work‑zone speed compliance and use of safety cameras during the remaining construction.
