LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A steel repair project will soon resume on the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge in Louisville, which carries Interstate 65 South over the Ohio River. 

What You Need To Know

  • Steel repairs are resuming on the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge in Louisville 

  • The bridge's right two lanes will be closed overnight from Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. through Oct. 8 at 6 a.m. while the bridge's right lane will stay closed through Oct. 15 at 6 a.m. 

  • The left three lanes will then be closed beginning Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. through Oct. 16 at 6 a.m., with the left two lanes remaining closed through Dec. 24 at 6 a.m. 

  • Work began in July and is expected to be complete by May 2025 

Steel for the repairs has been fabricated, said the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and contract crews will begin work Monday, Oct. 7. The right two lanes of the bridge will be closed overnight Monday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. through Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 6 a.m. while the bridge's right lane will remain closed until Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 6 a.m. after the overnight closures.

Work will shift to the upstream side following repairs on the downstream side. The bridge's left three lanes will be closed overnight beginning Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. through Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 6 a.m., with the left two lanes remaining closed until Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 6 a.m.

Repairs began in July. The Transportation Cabinet said the project follows a federally required inspection of older bridges across the country built with "T-1" steel, a high-strength steel that is susceptible to welding and machining. During 2022 inspections, engineering firm Michael Baker International tested nearly 700 welds and identified more than 40 locations that would need future repairs, the Transportation Cabinet added.

Work is expected to be completed by May 2025. 

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