Kennedy Bridge Closing Next Week

(Image courtesy of Ohio River Bridges Project)

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge, connecting Jeffersonville and Louisville, will close to traffic next week. The closure is part of the Ohio River Bridges Project and is expected to last just over six months.

The bridge carries drivers from I-65 South to I-64 East and I-71 North. Currently, only one lane of the bridge is open to traffic. That single lane is expected to close overnight Monday with the closure in place by 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

Crews are installing a new floor system on the bridge on top of existing floor beams. The first phase of the work will be done on the west side of the bridge and is expected to be complete in July. At that point, one lane of the bridge will be reopened, restoring access from I-65 South to I-64 East and West and I-71 North.

The remaining lanes of the bridge will be closed until late 2016, near the end of the project. During that time, crews will be completing phase two of the project, which will see the same work done on the east side of the bridge.

During the closure, the newly-opened Abraham Lincoln Bridge will continue to carry traffic on northbound and southbound I-65. Drivers on I-65 southbound heading to I-65 and I-71 North will require alternate routes. Signed detours will be in place.