The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Bridge work closes westbound I-64
Sherman Minton Bridge to reopen Aug. 14
Construction work has closed part of the Sherman Minton Bridge through Aug. 14, as the final phase of a threeyear renovation project continues.
Drivers who regularly use the bridge to travel from Louisville to New Albany, Indiana, will need to find an alternate route for nine days. Additionally, the westbound Interstate 64 exit ramp to Elm Street in New Albany will be closed, according to a news release from the Sherman Minton Renewal project. Drivers also will not be able to access westbound I-64 from the westbound I-264 ramp in Louisville.
Eastbound I-64 will remain open, allowing vehicles to cross the bridge into Louisville.
The westbound I-64 closure started Monday and will continue until around 5 a.m. on Aug. 14. While the closure remains in place, drivers are advised to use interstates 65 and 265 as part of an alternate route. From westbound I-264, drivers looking to cross the Sherman Minton Bridge will be required to exit at Bank Street in Louisville, before continuing on to eastbound I-64 and northbound Interstate 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,” project officials said in a statement.
If the closure is delayed for any reason, including inclement weather, project officials said they would notify drivers via email and text messages, which users can sign up for on the project’s website.
What does the construction work entail?
The Sherman Minton Renewal project includes “long-term repairs needed to extend the life of the bridge” up to 30 years, according to the project website. The bridge, which first opened in 1962, carries around 70,000 vehicles a day when it is fully open.
The project is in its final phase, also known as Phase 5. In this stage of the project, crews will replace the vertical hangar cables along the exterior of the bridge, replace lighting and install equipment for a traffic monitoring system, among other things.
When will the Sherman Minton Bridge project end?
Phase 5 of the Sherman Minton Renewal is expected to be complete by “late summer” 2024, according to the project’s website.