KYTC to reopen a small section of I-65 southbound lanes Monday after shutdown project

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced that Interstate 65 is set to reopen a small section of its southbound lanes Monday morning after a shutdown project that required demolition work, the cabinet said in a news update reported Sunday by WAVE.

According to KYTC, the reopened portion covers about two miles of southbound I-65 between University Boulevard and the Watterson Lane interchange area. The agency said the project’s demolition phase has been completed and that work remains on schedule.

The reopening is scheduled for Monday morning, with KYTC describing the change as a return of traffic capacity for the affected corridor. Drivers traveling southbound through the University Boulevard to Watterson segment are expected to see lane conditions improve compared with the period when the lanes were closed for the project.

WAVE’s report described the demolition work as the major step concluding before the lane restart. KYTC’s stated approach indicates the agency is coordinating traffic impacts in phases rather than maintaining a longer-term full closure of the interstate corridor.

As of the announcement time, the scope of KYTC’s commitment appears limited to the two-mile section that was under the shutdown project, rather than a broader statewide or multi-interchange restart. Motorists are still likely to encounter routine work-zone controls near the project footprint, particularly if additional tasks remain beyond demolition.

KYTC did not provide, in the reported update, additional details such as specific lane configurations after the reopen, whether speed reductions would remain in place, or whether related ramps or crossovers were part of the same phase. Drivers are advised to follow posted signs and Kentucky’s current travel alerts when available before heading into the corridor Monday.

KYTC’s next operational steps, based on the report, focus on completing remaining work consistent with its schedule. The agency’s ability to reopen the southbound lanes after demolition completion is intended to reduce ongoing travel delays and improve day-to-day access for commuters and freight traffic using that segment of I-65.