Closures for Thunder Over Louisville announced by KYTC, INDOT

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Indiana Department of Transportation have announced the following closures, which will cause traffic changes beginning tomorrow through Sunday, in preparation for and following Thunder Over Louisville:

• Clark Memorial Bridge: Closing at 9:30 a.m. Thursday (April 19) through 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22.
• Third Street Exit Ramp off I-64 Westbound and Second Street Entrance Ramp to I-64 Eastbound: Closed 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 20 through 6 a.m. Sunday, April 22.
• 
  I-65 Southbound from Interstate 265 (I-265) to the Kennedy Bridge: Closed on Saturday, April 21 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Southbound I-65 motorists will be rerouted onto westbound I-265 towards New Albany and I-64. All access ramps to southbound I-65 that are between I-265 and the Kennedy Bridge will close as well. These ramps will only open to southbound I-65 traffic once the fireworks show is over and the roadways are safe for vehicular traffic.

For more information, Kentucky residents - Dial 511 or log on to http://www.511.ky.gov/ for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky or Indiana resident - For the latest news and information about INDOT, please visit www.in.gov/indot and http://www.trafficwise.in.gov/. 

I-71 Construction Will Resume April 13

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has announced that construction on Interstate 71 in Louisville is scheduled to start again on April 13th. Asphalt paving and concrete bridge deck repairs will resume on this section of roadway between Interstate 64 in downtown Louisville and Interstate 264 (Watterson Expressway).


Concrete repairs will be completed on the nine sets of bridges between downtown and I-264 (mile points 0.0 and 5.5). During these repairs, I-71 will be reduced to one lane for sixteen days in each direction.

Southbound I-71 will be reduced to one lane from 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 13th through 6:00 a.m. on Monday, April 30th. Construction is scheduled to begin in the right lane and as work progresses construction will move to the left lane.

As part of this work, the exit ramp from southbound I-71 to Zorn Avenue (Exit 2) will be closed from 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 13th until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 19th.

Lane closures for bridge repairs on northbound I-71 are currently scheduled for May 11th – 28th.

Tractor-trailers and loads wider than 11 feet will not be permitted through the work zone. A signed detour will be in place via Interstate 264 and Interstate 64.

Lengthy delays are anticipated with these lane closures. Motorists should consider alternate routes or allow extra time to reach their destination.

The final asphalt surface will be paved between Interstate 64 and the Blankenbaker Lane overpass (mile points 0.0 and 3.5). During this phase of the project full road closures will be utilized on two weekends between mid-May and early June. Dates for this work will be provided based upon weather and construction progress.

On average, 60,000 vehicles travel this section of roadway each day. The speed limit in the work zone will be reduced to 55 MPH.

Construction began in August 2011 on this project, but work was limited last fall due to the closure of the Sherman Minton Bridge. Interstate 71 served as the detour route for accessing Interstate 65 and crossing the Ohio River into southern Indiana.

Gohmann Asphalt and Construction is the contractor on this $10.9 million project. Work is currently scheduled for completion in June.

The actual starting date and duration of this work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Dial 511 or log on to 511.ky.gov for the latest in traffic and travel information in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Traffic information for the District 5 counties is also available at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict5.

Brownsboro Road Diet Project Has Comment Period

Louisville Metro Public Works is currently accepting public comments on the Brownsboro Road Diet project to allow citizens an additional opportunity to provide input. Comments will be accepted through April 29.


The project modifies a portion of U.S. 42 (Brownsboro Road) between Ewing Avenue and Pope Street in the Clifton neighborhood, improving driver and pedestrian safety.

Phase One, from Dresher Bridge Road to Lindsay, will use restriping to transition the roadway from four lanes to three lanes. Phase Two, from Lindsay to Ewing Ave, includes reconstruction of the north curb and the addition of a sidewalk. The entire project length is 0.4 miles.

“This is a project that will not only enhance safety for those behind the wheel but also for those who walk this stretch of road, including many visually impaired citizens,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “The comment period ensures everyone will have the opportunity to participate in the process.”

Fischer also said that a he wants the 30-day comment period to mirror a similar comment period for a similar project on Grinstead Drive, from Bardstown Road to Cherokee Parkway. It includes resurfacing and a road diet to create one travel lane in each direction divided by a two way left turn lane with a full –time dedicated parking lane on one side.

Comments may be emailed to: brownsbororoaddiet@louisvilleky.gov

Or send to:
Brownsboro Road Diet Comments
c/o Metro Public Works
444. S. 5th Street Suite 400
Louisville, KY 40202

The project was developed by Metro Public Works in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Metro Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh.

The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety joins the ‘One Text or Call Could Wreck It All’ campaign

In an effort to make roadways safer and in honor of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) has joined the “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All” campaign sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The KOHS has pledged to help spread the message that distracted drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but everyone else on the road.


“We all know that talking on our cell phones while driving is distracting, but that doesn’t stop most people from continuing to do it,” said KOHS Director Bill Bell. “This effort is intended to educate our community about the dangers of cell phone use and other distractions while driving. We hope that once people see the statistics and realize the danger involved, they will change their driving habits to help protect themselves, their families, and others on the road.”

According to NHTSA, in 2009 alone, nearly 5,500 people were killed and a half million more individuals were injured in distracted driving crashes. That same year, 20 percent of injury crashes involved reports of distracted driving.

While anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task of driving is a hazard, there is heightened concern about the risks of texting while driving because it combines all three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive.

The national distracted driving effort focuses on ways to change the behavior of drivers through legislation, enforcement, public awareness and education – the same activities that have curbed drunken driving and increased seat belt use.

“Every driver in Kentucky has a role in this effort,” said Bell. “However, we especially want to reach teen drivers because we know that statistically, the under-20 age group had the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes.”

KOHS is encouraging schools to promote the “no texting while driving” pledge also available on the KOHS homepage.

The goal of this campaign is simple – save lives by getting drivers to remember that “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All.”

“Distracted driving is an epidemic on America’s roadways, and we’re doing our part to help put an end to it,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. “Texting and cell phone use while driving is extremely dangerous, and we know simply getting drivers to turn their phones off when they get behind the wheel will make our roads significantly safer. Efforts like this one will help us put an end to distracted driving, and we encourage your support of this program to help save lives in your community.”

For more information about distracted driving, please visit www.distraction.gov.

INDOT Reminder: No Campaign Signs Along Federal and State Highways

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is reminding all Hoosiers that campaign signs are prohibited from federal and state highway rights-of-way by Indiana Code 9-21-4-6.

In a press release, INDOT said personnel are required by state law to remove all unauthorized signs within the state right-of-way. The right-of-way areas which must remain “sign free” for the safety of the motoring public include:


• All interstates and their interchanges;
• All intersections where at least one local, state or federal road intersects with a state or federal highway; and
• All rights-of-way paralleling federal or state highways (the right-of-way extends to the back of the ditch, to the fence line or up to utility poles). INDOT crews will not pull signs placed behind the ditch, fence line or beyond the public utility poles.

Removed signs are being saved at the nearest INDOT Subdistrict office. Candidates may reclaim signs between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, except for holidays, at these locations:.

• Aurora Subdistrict, 8074 US 50, Aurora 812-926-0376
• Bloomington Subdistrict, 2965 Prow Road, Bloomington 812-332-1411
• Columbus Subdistrict, 3545 Two Mile House Road, Columbus 812-372-7837
• Falls City Subdistrict, 5701 HWY. 31, Clarksville 812-282-7493
• Madison Subdistrict, 1875 W. JPG Woodfill Road, Madison 812-574-4368

For more information, the public or candidates can also call INDOT toll-free at 877-305-7611.