News Item #1688

The $130 million widening and improvement of Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) and US 42 (Brownsboro Road) in Louisville is now more than halfway done, and it reaches a milestone on Monday, Nov. 23, when US 42 traffic moves onto the newly built portion of its bridge over I-264. The new roadway is nearly three feet higher than the old one, so the ramps at Exit 22 close in stages from Friday, Nov. 20, through Wednesday, Nov. 25, for the pavement tie-ins. Traffic will stay on the new portion of the bridge through the summer of 2027 while crews build the rest of it.

Other recent work on the project: weekend closures of I-264 in October for paving, as traffic moved from the outside lanes to the inside lanes along the corridor, and overnight closures on Interstate 71 and I-264 for the new I-71 South to I-264 West ramp bridge. Cleary Construction Inc. is the contractor, and the project is expected to be finished in the fall of 2027.

From Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 5:

I-264/U.S. 42 Improvement Project Traffic Advisory: Temporary Traffic Restrictions to Begin Friday, Nov. 20
Traffic to switch to newly constructed portion of U.S. 42 bridge on Nov. 23 as project surpasses halfway mark

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2026) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) advises motorists of upcoming temporary traffic restrictions on U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) and Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway) beginning Friday, Nov. 20.

The temporary traffic restrictions will allow crews to prepare for and complete a traffic shift onto the newly constructed portion of the U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) bridge over I-264, with the traffic switch scheduled to take place on Monday, Nov. 23. The new roadway elevation is nearly three feet higher than the existing roadway, requiring pavement tie-in work to accommodate the traffic switch to the newly constructed U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) bridge.

To minimize extended traffic impacts in the area, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and I-264 and U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) Widening and Improvement Project  team have combined project construction phasing into a single approach. The schedule for upcoming temporary traffic impacts listed below takes into consideration the potential for inclement weather and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Beginning Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. through Monday, Nov. 23, at 6 a.m.

• The I-264 East on-ramp from U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) will be closed.

• The I-264 West off-ramp to U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) at Exit 22 will be closed.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 23, at 6 a.m., through Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 6 a.m.

• The I-264 West on-ramp from U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) will be closed.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 23, at 6 a.m. through Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 6 a.m.

• The I-264 East off-ramp to U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) at Exit 22 will be closed.
  
  Motorists will still be able to access KY 22 at Exit 22 and should detour by turning left onto Lime Kiln Lane to reconnect with either eastbound or westbound U.S. 42.

By 6 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 23, traffic will be shifted onto the newly constructed portion of the U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) bridge over I-264. All temporary traffic restrictions associated with the traffic shift are expected to be lifted by 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25.

This traffic configuration will remain in place through the Summer of 2027 as crews advance construction on the remaining portion of the bridge. The upcoming traffic shift marks a significant project milestone, with construction on the $130 million project now more than halfway complete.

Motorists should heed signage, use caution when traveling through the work zone, and plan ahead for travel delays.

The highway improvement project is expected to be completed by the Fall of 2027. More details, including project timelines and traffic impacts , will be shared online as work progresses. Motorists are encouraged to sign up for email or text alerts  regarding weekly traffic impacts pertaining to the project.

The date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. For the latest traffic and travel updates across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, visit goky.ky.gov . Information specific to District 5 counties is also available on Facebook  and X .

Earlier: Overnight Traffic Impacts on I-71 and I-264 Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 3; Upcoming Directional Weekend Closures of I-264 Beginning Friday, Oct. 16