LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — In five weeks, one of the busiest stretches of Interstate 65 in Louisville will go dark, shutting down in both directions from the airport to near downtown. For tens of thousands of drivers, the question isn't if their commute will change but how.
The 5-mile stretch of I-65 will shut down from June 1 through Aug. 1 So, we set out to test how drivers will navigate the city during the shutdown.
Starting near downtown by the YMCA, a simple rule was set: Avoid highways. The GPS estimated it would take 18 minutes to reach the airport. On a calm Wednesday afternoon just before 5 p.m., that seemed doable, but would it hold up?
The route moved east on Broadway, then onto Shelby Street, weaving past ongoing construction and light traffic. At one point, it even passed an ice cream shop, tempting enough to make a mental note to come back. But the bigger takeaway? The roads weren't crowded. Not yet.
From there, the GPS directed the drive toward Preston Highway, then under I-65 near the Kentucky Exposition Center. Right on cue, the route ended at the airport, just under the 18-minute estimate.
However, this was a best-case scenario.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, 120,000 vehicles travel this stretch of I-65 every day between Broadway and the University exit. Once the interstate shuts down, those drivers will be forced to find another way — and many will likely turn to GPS for answers.
Where will all that traffic go?
Some of it will spill into neighborhoods like the one near that ice cream shop. That's where residents Michael and Paul Gray live. For now, traffic isn't much of a concern. He's retired, she works from home, and the streets are relatively quiet. But that could change.
"It's not heavily traveled, and that's one of the reasons I like riding my bike back here," he said. "That might change things."
Just down the road on Bradley Avenue, construction is already underway for new bridge supports, part of a larger project that will eventually replace multiple crossings. Roads are closing, and patterns are shifting.
For commuters like Allison Rushing, who drive to New Albany, GPS is already a daily tool.
"It depends where I'm going," she said. "If I'm going to work, I use it to check traffic."
She's now trying to figure out what her route will look like once the shutdown begins. Familiar roads may no longer be an option.
To wrap up the test drive, we followed the state's designated detour using I-264. The stretch between Crittenden Drive and Bank Street carries between 38,000 and 117,000 vehicles a day.Â
The drive? About 20 minutes. But again, that's without the added pressure of tens of thousands of rerouted drivers.
When the shutdown begins, drivers heading south on I-65 will still be able to exit at Jefferson Street. After that, many will be relying on their phones to guide them through unfamiliar streets and unexpected congestion.
Those wanting to learn more can attend one of two public meetings on the upcoming closure. The first is set for 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at DuPont Manual High School. The second will be held 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at Spalding University.
The real test begins in five weeks. And when it does, every shortcut, side street and alternate route will matter.
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