I-65 delays around Louisville? Leaving from Indy

[hauntedcity]

We are driving from Indianapolis, and we usually take 65 South through Louisville. However, up here in Indy, there are actually signs warning of long delays in Louisville due to construction. Would it be better for us to take I-74 through Cincinnati? It's a bit longer, but it could be faster if Louisville is a parking lot around 4pm.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,

Doug

 

[sam_gordon]

We are driving from Indianapolis, and we usually take 65 South through Louisville. However, up here in Indy, there are actually signs warning of long delays in Louisville due to construction. Would it be better for us to take I-74 through Cincinnati? It's a bit longer, but it could be faster if Louisville is a parking lot around 4pm.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,

Doug

I would expect a major slowdown as you approach and cross the river into Louisville. Also, there is a lot of construction south of Louisville and south of Elizabethtown.

Yes, I would take 74. I've never seen much traffic between Indy & Cincy. Take 275 around Cincy to get to 75 South in Kentucky though.

 

[hauntedcity]

I would expect a major slowdown as you approach and cross the river into Louisville. Also, there is a lot of construction south of Louisville and south of Elizabethtown.

Yes, I would take 74. I've never seen much traffic between Indy & Cincy. Take 275 around Cincy to get to 75 South in Kentucky though.

Thanks for the info! I was leaning that way, and this helps confirm.

 

[TinCanTee]

Hitting any city at 4 pm is going to be congested, but in Louisville there are lane closures on I65 due to the Ohio River Bridge project and traffic is a mess. You >could< use the I265 bypass to get to I64 and cross the Sherman Minton bridge on the west side of Louisville and take I264 back over to I65 but I'm not sure you would save anything because locals will be trying to avoid I65 in downtown as well. If it were me, I'd go to Cincy and go south on I75. Safe travels.

 

[grimley1968]

I'd take the 74/275/75 route around Cincy rather than Louisville. Even if the delays in Louisville aren't as bad as expected, I-75 is generally a better road in Kentucky than I-65. It has more 3 lane sections than 65 and usually fewer construction headaches.

A note of caution, though: between Lexington and Richmond, KY on I-75, there was a bit of 1-lane road at times this summer during what should have been simple road repaving. I don't know why it took so long or if it's finished yet, but keep a watch out. Also, we noticed last weekend that they're getting ready to, I think, 3 lane a currently 2 lane section of I-75 between mile markers 58 and 68. They may close one of the 2 current lanes at times there, but fortunately that isn't as crowded a section of road as the stretch between Lexington and Richmond. Even with these cautions, it pales in comparison to the seemingly constant stories I read/hear about much of I-65 being a parking lot at times. If you get stuck in a jam on I-75, you can usually take an exit and get on Highway 25, which runs parallel to I-75 through much of the state, and has many entrances/exits on I-75.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'd take the 74/275/75 route around Cincy rather than Louisville. Even if the delays in Louisville aren't as bad as expected, I-75 is generally a better road in Kentucky than I-65. It has more 3 lane sections than 65 and usually fewer construction headaches.

A note of caution, though: between Lexington and Richmond, KY on I-75, there was a bit of 1-lane road at times this summer during what should have been simple road repaving. I don't know why it took so long or if it's finished yet, but keep a watch out. Also, we noticed last weekend that they're getting ready to, I think, 3 lane a currently 2 lane section of I-75 between mile markers 58 and 68. They may close one of the 2 current lanes at times there, but fortunately that isn't as crowded a section of road as the stretch between Lexington and Richmond. Even with these cautions, it pales in comparison to the seemingly constant stories I read/hear about much of I-65 being a parking lot at times. If you get stuck in a jam on I-75, you can usually take an exit and get on Highway 25, which runs parallel to I-75 through much of the state, and has many entrances/exits on I-75.

The construction between Lexington and Richmond is complete. There was some slow down between miles 58 & 68, but there were still multiple lanes open this past weekend.

 

[grimley1968]

The construction between Lexington and Richmond is complete. There was some slow down between miles 58 & 68, but there were still multiple lanes open this past weekend.

This past weekend is when I rode on that stretch between 58 and 68. It was still just a minor slowdown with both lanes open, but there was a sign that said one lane would be closed beginning Monday. I don't know if they'll open and close that lane to adjust for traffic or if it's closed for the duration of the work. If as I suspect they're finally 3 laning it, it could be a lengthy bit of work, possibly requiring blasting, etc. It's one of the longest stretches of I-75 left that isn't 3-lane in Kentucky at this point. But long distance travelers shouldn't have much local traffic there to cause parking lot conditions. There are no towns of any size for many miles around there.

 

[LadyBeBop]

They're paving the left lane of I-75 around Georgetown (around MM 130-121). Just went through it a few minutes ago (road trip to Tennessee. Traffic was slower than usual for a construction zone. However keep in mind, we just went through it during rush hour.

Don't worry. DH is driving.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Regarding that stretch between exits 58 and 68.

Yes, it was a parking lot.

Took us nearly an hour to go two miles. And that was before the actual construction. We made an illegal U turn on the interstate and went back to the Berea exit. Drove US 25 for about 20 miles. That was slow, because a lot of travelers took that route as well. But we were moving. We were back on the highway in about a half hour.

We are going home Monday, so I'll see what traffic is like then. But right now, I can't see how going through Louisville would be any worse.

 

[grimley1968]

Sorry to read that! I guess in that light I-65 would be preferable. Were there any signs saying what days of the week lane closures will be? I have to go that way on Saturday to get to the Kentucky football game.

 

[sam_gordon]

Sorry to read that! I guess in that light I-65 would be preferable. Were there any signs saying what days of the week lane closures will be? I have to go that way on Saturday to get to the Kentucky football game.

It might be overnight construction also. Kentucky's been doing a lot of their construction from 7pm-6am. I notice the PP posted at 9pm, so that might be part of the issue.

On the other hand, last week, one of the electronic signs said there would be lane closures from Sunday 7pm to Friday 6am, but since this was last week, we didn't know if the sign was referring to the current week (9/28-10/4) or the upcoming week (10/5-10/10). We drove that stretch on 10/2 (southbound) and 10/4 (north bound), and while there was some slowdown, we never stopped. Both times it was around 5pm.

 

[grimley1968]

It might be overnight construction also. Kentucky's been doing a lot of their construction from 7pm-6am. I notice the PP posted at 9pm, so that might be part of the issue.

On the other hand, last week, one of the electronic signs said there would be lane closures from Sunday 7pm to Friday 6am, but since this was last week, we didn't know if the sign was referring to the current week (9/28-10/4) or the upcoming week (10/5-10/10). We drove that stretch on 10/2 (southbound) and 10/4 (north bound), and while there was some slowdown, we never stopped. Both times it was around 5pm.

Thanks. That's the sign I saw, I think. I saw it on 10/5 at about 7 PM (heading south) and saw the workers starting to put the cones on the road. Hopefully the lane closures will be restricted to only those hours, because the work could go one for quite a while, if it is indeed adding lanes. Fortunately I-75 overpasses the road I drive on to get to it just before the on ramp, so I can see whether it's backed up before getting on it and drive up to the Berea exit on Hwy. 25 if necessary.

Sorry to be , OP, but I suppose this does affect one's decision whether to use I-65 or I-75 if coming from north of Kentucky. If you're driving through outside those construction hours, it'll probably be okay on I-75. If within those hours, I guess I'd go with I-65.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I would also take the 74/275/75 route. The Georgetown construction keeps 2 lanes open. Hopefully they are 3 laning the 58-68, there are many accidents in that stretch and it is needed, but they just repaved and added the median chains so it may not be the case.

We hate taking 65 anywhere, period.

 

[grimley1968]

I would also take the 74/275/75 route. The Georgetown construction keeps 2 lanes open. Hopefully they are 3 laning the 58-68, there are many accidents in that stretch and it is needed, but they just repaved and added the median chains so it may not be the case. We hate taking 65 anywhere, period.

I was just on that 58-68 stretch yesterday and I'm sure now they're 3 laning it. It moved well then but I can see it being slowed down during lane closures during the week.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I was just on that 58-68 stretch yesterday and I'm sure now they're 3 laning it. It moved well then but I can see it being slowed down during lane closures during the week.

So is it just luck that we got there at the wrong time Thursday night (which I'm pretty sure was a few minutes before 7 PM). DH says we were lucky we ate dinner in Lexington instead if waiting until we reached London or Corbin like we usually do. Now I'm not sure.

Leaving to go home tomorrow. Will get to that stretch no later than mid-afternoon.

 

[grimley1968]

So is it just luck that we got there at the wrong time Thursday night (which I'm pretty sure was a few minutes before 7 PM). DH says we were lucky we ate dinner in Lexington instead if waiting until we reached London or Corbin like we usually do. Now I'm not sure. Leaving to go home tomorrow. Will get to that stretch no later than mid-afternoon.

Your time will be a better test probably. There was some UK game traffic yesterday but not much else. Hwy. 25 really is a decent alternative and the colors are spectacular now, if you find it necessary.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Made it home several hours ago. No problems going northbound. There was a slight build-up going southbound, but nothing major. Traffic was flowing between 55-60 MPH going northbound and about 10 MPH slower going southbound.

Looks like the problem was with lane closures on Thursday night. Three lanes, right after rush hour, funneling into one lane. Not good.

I think OP's concerns were with hitting Louisville construction during evening rush hour. By taking 74-275-75, he may hit the Berea construction after the lane closures begin.

However, I don't know how long the lane closures will be. My suggestion: Before leaving Indy, call the KY Traffic and Traveler Information line at 866-737-3767. You can ask about both the Louisville construction and the Berea construction as well.

Good luck. And let us know which route you take, and how long it took you.

 

[grimley1968]

Made it home several hours ago. No problems going northbound. There was a slight build-up going southbound, but nothing major. Traffic was flowing between 55-60 MPH going northbound and about 10 MPH slower going southbound. Looks like the problem was with lane closures on Thursday night. Three lanes, right after rush hour, funneling into one lane. Not good. I think OP's concerns were with hitting Louisville construction during evening rush hour. By taking 74-275-75, he may hit the Berea construction after the lane closures begin. However, I don't know how long the lane closures will be. My suggestion: Before leaving Indy, call the KY Traffic and Traveler Information line at 866-737-3767. You can ask about both the Louisville construction and the Berea construction as well. Good luck. And let us know which route you take, and how long it took you.

Good to read. But that stretch was never 3 lanes, only 2. I think they're 3 laning it now.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Good to read. But that stretch was never 3 lanes, only 2. I think they're 3 laning it now.

I know. However, it's three lanes going into two lanes. Then blocking one of the two lanes. So essentially, it's three lanes going into one.

When we made our illegal turnaround last Thursday, it was still a three lane parking lot. Yes, that's how bad it was. It was still another four or five miles until it became two lanes.

 

[grimley1968]

I know. However, it's three lanes going into two lanes. Then blocking one of the two lanes. So essentially, it's three lanes going into one.

When we made our illegal turnaround last Thursday, it was still a three lane parking lot. Yes, that's how bad it was. It was still another four or five miles until it became two lanes.

You're right. Sorry about that. If anyone needs to take a detour around I-75 for that stretch, the closest exits are at Exit 59 (just inside the southern end of the construction) and at Exit 76 (Berea, north of the construction). This would require driving on Hwy. 25. Hwy. 25 has a turn in the town of Mount Vernon, but it's otherwise an easy road. HTH others.