Charlie White

@c_write

A new phase of downtown bridge construction — starting early next month — includes a major, long-term Interstate 65 change near the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge that project officials are calling the "Big Squeeze."

Officials with the $2.3 billion Ohio River Bridges Project say new traffic configurations are likely to cause "significant" delays over the next two years on both sides of the river, possibly worse than any during the recent 38-day closure of the Clark Memorial Bridge.

That's because the Kennedy carries about five times as much daily traffic, or 125,000 vehicles each day.

"We are getting ready for the change that we think will have the biggest impact on drivers on both sides of the river," project spokeswoman Mindy Peterson told reporters on Monday.

Starting Sept. 2, workers will begin preparing for the changeover, which will begin a couple of weeks later and reduce traffic in both directions of Interstate 65 to two lanes from just north of the Stansifer Avenue exit in Clarksville to the Kennedy.

I-65 traffic in both directions will be forced to the southbound lanes through the middle of next year as the existing northbound lanes are demolished and rebuilt.

Then similar work will cause a second shift in mid-2015 as work moves to the southbound lanes, with both directions of traffic using the new northbound lanes through late 2016, near the time the bridges project is to be completed, Peterson said.

"It's building the new connections we need to the new bridge and to the Kennedy," Peterson said.

Although the shift will be confined to I-65 in Southern Indiana, Peterson said recent overnight shoulder work in the same area showed project officials that it will also affect traffic in Louisville on I-65, I-64 and I-71.

There will be no southbound lane closures on the Kennedy during this stage of construction, which is likely good news for drivers who already back up regularly while heading toward Spaghetti Junction.

One northbound lane of the bridge will be lost for construction, leaving two driving lanes and one exit lane for Court Avenue in Jeffersonville, Peterson said.

And U.S. 31 already has been reduced to one lane in the same area.

When the Clark bridge reopened Aug. 15, drivers began using the Clark bridge that narrows from two lanes to one at the Hoosier end. Workers have built new northbound and southbound ramps on U.S. 31 at the foot of the Clark bridge that straddle what eventually will be a "flyover" ramp to carry northbound traffic from U.S. 31 to Interstate 65.

Signs near the Hoosier end of the Clark bridge also direct all northbound drivers to detour through downtown Jeffersonville by exiting onto Court Avenue. Drivers can then take Spring Street to 10th Street to access I-65.

Signs also will direct drivers when the upcoming shift begins.

Overnight work continues this week on the Kennedy as contractors install equipment that Peterson said is needed to develop the electronic tolling system that will be used.

Two lanes of the bridge will be closed in both directions from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. through Thursday, Peterson said.

Reporter Charlie White can be reached at (812) 949-4026 or on Twitter @c_write.

'Big Squeeze' tips

• Adjust travel plans, when possible, to avoid peak times

• Consider alternate routes, including the Sherman Minton Bridge

• Consider using surface streets, when possible

• Allow extra time

• Consider carpooling or public transportation, www.ridetarc.org

• Focus on the road and avoid distractions like cell phones

Source: Ohio River Bridges Project