LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After an abrupt, complete closure for emergency repairs cut off the vital bridge between Louisville and southern Indiana last week, engineers expect the Sherman Minton Bridge to reopen before rush hour on Monday, Aug. 7.

Since the closure, crews have worked around the clock to restore previous traffic capacity: two eastbound lanes on the lower deck, one westbound lane on the lower deck, and one westbound lane on the upper deck.

The Sherman Minton carries traffic on Interstate 64 between west Louisville and New Albany, Ind. The bi-state team will continue to monitor progress as repairs take place to safely reopen the bridge.

The bridge has been closed to traffic since early morning on July 27, when crews discovered a problem with a bridge bearing that supports the upper deck of the Kentucky Approach Bridge. Out of an abundance of caution, officials closed both the upper and lower decks because the affected section of the structure partially overhangs the lower deck at the location of the bearing.

The bearing and its pier are needed to provide support for the upper deck of the approach. Engineers and crews have worked nonstop since the issue was discovered to determine the extent of the problem, inspect the bridge for any related issues and plan emergency repairs to ensure the safety of the structure.

“The Sherman Minton Bridge is an important asset for this region, and that’s why Indiana and Kentucky are investing in a project that will ensure it is safe and sound for decades to come,” said Royce Meredith, Transportation Engineering Specialist with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The Sherman Minton Renewal began in late summer 2021.

The project aims to address structural deficiencies, replace or refurbish all bridge decks and apply a fresh coat of paint to add up to 30 years of life to the bridge.