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Interstate 264 (Kentucky)

February 13, 2024

Interstate 264 (I-264) is a partial loop around the city of Louisville, Kentucky, south of the Ohio River. An auxiliary route of I-64, it is signed as the Shawnee Expressway for its first eight miles (13 km) from its western terminus at I-64/U.S. Route 150 (US 150) to US 31W/US 60 and as the Watterson Expressway for the remainder of its length from US 31W/US 60 to its northeastern terminus at I-71. It is 22.93 miles (36.90 km) in length and runs an open circle around central Louisville.[1] The highway begins four miles (6.4 km) west of Downtown Louisville at I-64 just east of the Sherman Minton Bridge, which links Southern Indiana with Kentucky as it crosses the Ohio River. The Interstate ends approximately six miles (9.7 km) northeast of Downtown Louisville, where it connects to I-71. It is the only auxiliary route of I-64 outside of Virginia.

Interstate 264

Watterson/Shawnee Expressway
I-264 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-64
Maintained by KYTC
Length22.93 mi (36.90 km)
Existed1956–present
HistoryConstruction completed in 1974
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-64 / US 150 in Shawnee
Major intersections
East end I-71 in Glenview Manor
Location
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountiesJefferson
Highway system
  • Kentucky State Highway System
← KY 259→ I-265

I-264 is Louisville's inner beltway (in conjunction with I-64 and I-71), and the later constructed I-265, the Gene Snyder Freeway, is Louisville's outer beltway. I-264 is currently used as the primary detour route when I-64 is closed through Downtown Louisville. However, in late 2016 with the completion of the Lewis and Clark Bridge, the formerly separate segments of I-265 in Kentucky and Indiana have been connected to provide another detour route.

In discussions about the city, I-264 is often used as a rough line dividing the older areas of Louisville from its suburbs.

Route description edit

History edit

 
Eastbound I-264 on the approach to I-64 and Shelbyville Road exits

In 1948, a two-lane bypass was built between Shelbyville Road and US 31W (Dixie Highway) in Louisville as a relocation of US 60. It was named the "Watterson Expressway" after local journalist and editor Henry Watterson. In the late 1950s, work began to update the original two-lane road that was upgraded to a four-lane controlled-access highway while simultaneously extended to US 42 which would be finished by 1965. In the late 1960s, it would be extended further to its eastern terminus at I-71 as it was being built around the same time. Between 1970 and 1974, the western segment from Dixie Highway to I-64 northwest of Downtown Louisville was opened in segments when the entire expressway became part of the Interstate Highway System and designated as I-264. The original section from Dixie Highway to I-71 still retained the "Watterson Expressway" moniker and was cosigned, along with the original US 60 designation, as I-264, while the western segment was originally named the "Shawnee Expressway", even though signage referred to it simply as "I-264", with no mention of the "Shawnee Expressway" name. The Interstate was completed in 1974. The designation US 60 was dropped in 1984 when the original surface roads through Louisville were restored to their original US 60 designations. On April 1, 2010, the Kentucky General Assembly designated the western portion to be renamed as the Georgia Davis Powers Expressway.[2] The original Dixie Highway to I-71 segment signage reads as "I-264 Watterson Expressway", while the western segment signage still only reads as "I-264", with a small sign at both the western I-64 terminus and the Dixie interchange reading "Georgia Davis Powers Expressway".

Watterson Expressway reconstruction (1985–1995) edit

 
Junction of US 31E and I-264

The Watterson Expressway underwent a major reconstruction effort that began in 1985. The vintage freeway had outlived its useful purpose and had numerous characteristics that defined it as a blight on Louisville: deteriorating overpasses, buckling pavement, deficient and too closely spaced interchanges, and rampant congestion. Dozens of bridges were reconstructed and widened, and the majority of the interchanges were redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up from US 31W east to Shelbyville Road. The entire highway reconstruction project was completed in 1995.

A typical deficient interchange along I-264 was the I-65, Kentucky Exposition Center, and Louisville International Airport exit. Before the reconstruction, two cloverleafs with no collector–distributor lanes existed and posed serious weaving issues. The interchange today has been rebuilt and features numerous flyovers and collector–distributor lanes, making it safer though not necessarily easier to navigate.

Shawnee Expressway reconstruction (2003–2004) edit

The segment of I-264 from US 31W to the northwest I-64 interchange opened in segments from 1970 to August 1974 and received no more than emergency or spot patching. After several years of planning, in early 2003, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) began a rehabilitation project on this segment of Interstate Highway stretching from the US 31W interchange northwest to just east of Bank Street.

A concrete surface several inches thick was constructed on the mainline and access ramps, a new median barrier was formed, new lighting fixtures were installed, 37 bridges were rehabilitated, 380 new roadway signage was posted, and all guardrails were replaced as part of the 7.6-mile (12.2 km) project. In addition, the segment from River Park Drive to I-64, which was only two lanes, was widened to three lanes. No major ramp or interchange modifications were needed. The highway reconstruction project costed approximately $66 million (equivalent to $89.5 million in 2022[3]) and required 18 months of labor.

About 70,000 vehicles a day use the portion of I-264 near US 31W and about 40,000 daily use the segment near its western terminus with I-64.

KY 1447 interchange (2008–2010) edit

Although the Kentucky General Assembly considered plans for an interchange with Kentucky Route 1447 (KY 1447, Westport Road) as early as 1992, work did not begin until October 2008 and was completed in May 2010.[4][5][6][7][8]

Exit list edit

The entire route is in Louisville, Jefferson County.

mikmExitDestinationsNotes
0.00.00A-B   I-64 / US 150 – Louisville, Lexington, New Albany, St. LouisWestern terminus; Westbound exit/eastbound entrance & signed as exit 0A (east) & left 0B (west); I-64 exit 1; tri-stack interchange.
0.20.321Bank Street / Northwestern ParkwayEastbound exit and westbound entrance
1.01.62Muhammad Ali Boulevard / River Park Drive
2.33.73Virginia Avenue / Dumesnil Street
3.55.64   KY 2054 (Algonquin Parkway) / KY 2056 (Bells Lane)Eastbound exit not signed for KY 2054/Algonquin Parkway
4.7–
4.9		7.6–
7.9		5  KY 1934 (Cane Run Road) / Ralph AvenueEastbound exit signed as exits 5A (Ralph Avenue, Cane Run Road north) and 5B (Cane Run Road south) eastbound
6.911.18   US 31W / US 60 (Dixie Highway) – Fort Knox, ShivelySigned as exits 8A (south/west) and 8B (north/east)
West of this exit, I-264 is the Georgia Davis Powers Expressway; east of this exit it is the Watterson Expressway.
8.613.89  KY 1865 (Taylor Boulevard)
9.615.410  KY 1020 (Southern Parkway) / 3rd Street
10.516.911Crittenden Drive – Kentucky Exposition Center
10.817.411Louisville International Airport
10.817.412Kentucky Exposition Center (Freedom Way)Westbound exit is part of exit 11
10.917.512   I-65 / KY 61 – Nashville, IndianapolisI-65 exit 131A northbound, 131A-B southbound; former northern terminus of the Kentucky Turnpike, I-65 continued north
Curtis Avenue, Durrett LaneWestbound exit and entrance closed 1986; eastbound exit and entrance closed 1987[9]
12.920.814  KY 864 (Poplar Level Road)
14.122.715  KY 1703 (Newburg Road)Signed as exits 15A (north) and 15B (south) westbound
15.124.316   US 31E / US 150 (Bardstown Road)
16.426.417  KY 155 (Taylorsville Road)Signed as exits 17A (south) and 17B (north)
17.227.718  KY 1932 (Breckenridge Lane)Signed as exits 18A (south) and 18B (north)
18.429.619  I-64 – Lexington, LouisvilleI-64 exit 12 westbound, 12A-B eastbound; signed as exits 19A (east) and 19B (west).
18.830.320  US 60 (Shelbyville Road) – Middletown, St. MatthewsSigned as exits 20A (east) and 20B (west)
20.432.821  KY 1447 (Westport Road)
21.634.822   US 42 / KY 22 (Brownsboro Road)
22.436.023  I-71 – Cincinnati, LouisvilleEastern terminus; Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; signed as left exit 23B (south) & 23A (north); I-71 exit 5; tri-stack interchange
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Table 2 - Auxiliary Routes - FHWA Route Log and Finder List - Interstate Highway System - National Highway System - Planning". www.fhwa.dot.gov. Federal Highway Administration. December 31, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "House Joint Resolution 67" (PDF). Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  3. ^ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the Measuring Worth series.
  4. ^ www.westportvillage.com (PDF). The Courier-Journal. October 1, 2008 https://www.westportvillage.com/pdfs/LongDelayed_1001.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[dead link][title missing]
  5. ^ Alcock, Andy (April 29, 2010). . www.wlky.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  6. ^ "Interstate 264 at Westport Road" (PDF). ftp2.bentley.com. Retrieved February 1, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "KY 1447". KentuckyRoads.com. March 31, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  8. ^ "State to spend $47 million on I-264 at Westport Road interchange | Business First". Bizjournals.com. September 22, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  9. ^ Shapero, Ken (October 18, 1987). "Ramps at Watterson and I-65 are a-mazing for motorists". www.newspapers.com. The Courier Journal. pp. B1. Retrieved October 25, 2018.

Further reading edit

  • Kleber, John E., ed. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2100-0.

External links edit

KML file (edit • help)
Template:Attached KML/Interstate 264 (Kentucky)
KML is from Wikidata
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Interstate 264 (Kentucky).
  • Interstate-Guide.com - Interstate 264 (KY) page

February 13, 2024
interstate, kentucky, interstate, partial, loop, around, city, louisville, kentucky, south, ohio, river, auxiliary, route, signed, shawnee, expressway, first, eight, miles, from, western, terminus, route, watterson, expressway, remainder, length, from, northea. Interstate 264 I 264 is a partial loop around the city of Louisville Kentucky south of the Ohio River An auxiliary route of I 64 it is signed as the Shawnee Expressway for its first eight miles 13 km from its western terminus at I 64 U S Route 150 US 150 to US 31W US 60 and as the Watterson Expressway for the remainder of its length from US 31W US 60 to its northeastern terminus at I 71 It is 22 93 miles 36 90 km in length and runs an open circle around central Louisville 1 The highway begins four miles 6 4 km west of Downtown Louisville at I 64 just east of the Sherman Minton Bridge which links Southern Indiana with Kentucky as it crosses the Ohio River The Interstate ends approximately six miles 9 7 km northeast of Downtown Louisville where it connects to I 71 It is the only auxiliary route of I 64 outside of Virginia Interstate 264Watterson Shawnee ExpresswayI 264 highlighted in redRoute informationAuxiliary route of I 64Maintained by KYTCLength22 93 mi 36 90 km Existed1956 presentHistoryConstruction completed in 1974NHSEntire routeMajor junctionsWest endI 64 US 150 in ShawneeMajor intersectionsUS 31W US 60 in Shively I 65 near Louisville International Airport US 31E US 150 near Buechel I 64 in St Matthews US 60 in St Matthews US 42 KY 22 in Indian HillsEast endI 71 in Glenview ManorLocationCountryUnited StatesStateKentuckyCountiesJeffersonHighway systemInterstate Highway SystemMain Auxiliary Suffixed Business FutureKentucky State Highway SystemInterstate US State Parkways KY 259 I 265I 264 is Louisville s inner beltway in conjunction with I 64 and I 71 and the later constructed I 265 the Gene Snyder Freeway is Louisville s outer beltway I 264 is currently used as the primary detour route when I 64 is closed through Downtown Louisville However in late 2016 with the completion of the Lewis and Clark Bridge the formerly separate segments of I 265 in Kentucky and Indiana have been connected to provide another detour route In discussions about the city I 264 is often used as a rough line dividing the older areas of Louisville from its suburbs Contents 1 Route description 2 History 2 1 Watterson Expressway reconstruction 1985 1995 2 2 Shawnee Expressway reconstruction 2003 2004 2 3 KY 1447 interchange 2008 2010 3 Exit list 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksRoute description editThis section is empty You can help by adding to it March 2022 History edit nbsp Eastbound I 264 on the approach to I 64 and Shelbyville Road exitsIn 1948 a two lane bypass was built between Shelbyville Road and US 31W Dixie Highway in Louisville as a relocation of US 60 It was named the Watterson Expressway after local journalist and editor Henry Watterson In the late 1950s work began to update the original two lane road that was upgraded to a four lane controlled access highway while simultaneously extended to US 42 which would be finished by 1965 In the late 1960s it would be extended further to its eastern terminus at I 71 as it was being built around the same time Between 1970 and 1974 the western segment from Dixie Highway to I 64 northwest of Downtown Louisville was opened in segments when the entire expressway became part of the Interstate Highway System and designated as I 264 The original section from Dixie Highway to I 71 still retained the Watterson Expressway moniker and was cosigned along with the original US 60 designation as I 264 while the western segment was originally named the Shawnee Expressway even though signage referred to it simply as I 264 with no mention of the Shawnee Expressway name The Interstate was completed in 1974 The designation US 60 was dropped in 1984 when the original surface roads through Louisville were restored to their original US 60 designations On April 1 2010 the Kentucky General Assembly designated the western portion to be renamed as the Georgia Davis Powers Expressway 2 The original Dixie Highway to I 71 segment signage reads as I 264 Watterson Expressway while the western segment signage still only reads as I 264 with a small sign at both the western I 64 terminus and the Dixie interchange reading Georgia Davis Powers Expressway Watterson Expressway reconstruction 1985 1995 edit nbsp Junction of US 31E and I 264The Watterson Expressway underwent a major reconstruction effort that began in 1985 The vintage freeway had outlived its useful purpose and had numerous characteristics that defined it as a blight on Louisville deteriorating overpasses buckling pavement deficient and too closely spaced interchanges and rampant congestion Dozens of bridges were reconstructed and widened and the majority of the interchanges were redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up from US 31W east to Shelbyville Road The entire highway reconstruction project was completed in 1995 A typical deficient interchange along I 264 was the I 65 Kentucky Exposition Center and Louisville International Airport exit Before the reconstruction two cloverleafs with no collector distributor lanes existed and posed serious weaving issues The interchange today has been rebuilt and features numerous flyovers and collector distributor lanes making it safer though not necessarily easier to navigate Shawnee Expressway reconstruction 2003 2004 edit The segment of I 264 from US 31W to the northwest I 64 interchange opened in segments from 1970 to August 1974 and received no more than emergency or spot patching After several years of planning in early 2003 the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet KYTC began a rehabilitation project on this segment of Interstate Highway stretching from the US 31W interchange northwest to just east of Bank Street A concrete surface several inches thick was constructed on the mainline and access ramps a new median barrier was formed new lighting fixtures were installed 37 bridges were rehabilitated 380 new roadway signage was posted and all guardrails were replaced as part of the 7 6 mile 12 2 km project In addition the segment from River Park Drive to I 64 which was only two lanes was widened to three lanes No major ramp or interchange modifications were needed The highway reconstruction project costed approximately 66 million equivalent to 89 5 million in 2022 3 and required 18 months of labor About 70 000 vehicles a day use the portion of I 264 near US 31W and about 40 000 daily use the segment near its western terminus with I 64 KY 1447 interchange 2008 2010 edit Although the Kentucky General Assembly considered plans for an interchange with Kentucky Route 1447 KY 1447 Westport Road as early as 1992 work did not begin until October 2008 and was completed in May 2010 4 5 6 7 8 Exit list editThe entire route is in Louisville Jefferson County mikmExitDestinationsNotes0 00 00A B nbsp nbsp I 64 US 150 Louisville Lexington New Albany St LouisWestern terminus Westbound exit eastbound entrance amp signed as exit 0A east amp left 0B west I 64 exit 1 tri stack interchange 0 20 321Bank Street Northwestern ParkwayEastbound exit and westbound entrance1 01 62Muhammad Ali Boulevard River Park Drive2 33 73Virginia Avenue Dumesnil Street3 55 64 nbsp nbsp KY 2054 Algonquin Parkway KY 2056 Bells Lane Eastbound exit not signed for KY 2054 Algonquin Parkway4 7 4 97 6 7 95 nbsp KY 1934 Cane Run Road Ralph AvenueEastbound exit signed as exits 5A Ralph Avenue Cane Run Road north and 5B Cane Run Road south eastbound6 911 18 nbsp nbsp US 31W US 60 Dixie Highway Fort Knox ShivelySigned as exits 8A south west and 8B north east West of this exit I 264 is the Georgia Davis Powers Expressway east of this exit it is the Watterson Expressway 8 613 89 nbsp KY 1865 Taylor Boulevard 9 615 410 nbsp KY 1020 Southern Parkway 3rd Street10 516 911Crittenden Drive Kentucky Exposition Center10 817 411Louisville International Airport10 817 412Kentucky Exposition Center Freedom Way Westbound exit is part of exit 1110 917 512 nbsp nbsp I 65 KY 61 Nashville IndianapolisI 65 exit 131A northbound 131A B southbound former northern terminus of the Kentucky Turnpike I 65 continued northCurtis Avenue Durrett LaneWestbound exit and entrance closed 1986 eastbound exit and entrance closed 1987 9 12 920 814 nbsp KY 864 Poplar Level Road 14 122 715 nbsp KY 1703 Newburg Road Signed as exits 15A north and 15B south westbound15 124 316 nbsp nbsp US 31E US 150 Bardstown Road 16 426 417 nbsp KY 155 Taylorsville Road Signed as exits 17A south and 17B north 17 227 718 nbsp KY 1932 Breckenridge Lane Signed as exits 18A south and 18B north 18 429 619 nbsp I 64 Lexington LouisvilleI 64 exit 12 westbound 12A B eastbound signed as exits 19A east and 19B west 18 830 320 nbsp US 60 Shelbyville Road Middletown St MatthewsSigned as exits 20A east and 20B west 20 432 821 nbsp KY 1447 Westport Road 21 634 822 nbsp nbsp US 42 KY 22 Brownsboro Road 22 436 023 nbsp I 71 Cincinnati LouisvilleEastern terminus Eastbound exit and westbound entrance signed as left exit 23B south amp 23A north I 71 exit 5 tri stack interchange1 000 mi 1 609 km 1 000 km 0 621 mi Incomplete accessSee also editRoads in Louisville KentuckyReferences edit Table 2 Auxiliary Routes FHWA Route Log and Finder List Interstate Highway System National Highway System Planning www fhwa dot gov Federal Highway Administration December 31 2021 Retrieved March 18 2022 House Joint Resolution 67 PDF Retrieved February 1 2011 Johnston Louis Williamson Samuel H 2023 What Was the U S GDP Then MeasuringWorth Retrieved November 30 2023 United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the Measuring Worth series www westportvillage com PDF The Courier Journal October 1 2008 https www westportvillage com pdfs LongDelayed 1001 pdf a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help dead link title missing Alcock Andy April 29 2010 New I 264 Interchange Opens At Westport Road Louisville News Story WLKY Louisville www wlky com Archived from the original on September 28 2011 Retrieved February 1 2011 Interstate 264 at Westport Road PDF ftp2 bentley com Retrieved February 1 2011 permanent dead link KY 1447 KentuckyRoads com March 31 2010 Retrieved February 1 2011 State to spend 47 million on I 264 at Westport Road interchange Business First Bizjournals com September 22 2008 Retrieved February 1 2011 Shapero Ken October 18 1987 Ramps at Watterson and I 65 are a mazing for motorists www newspapers com The Courier Journal pp B1 Retrieved October 25 2018 Further reading editKleber John E ed 2000 The Encyclopedia of Louisville University Press of Kentucky ISBN 0 8131 2100 0 External links editKML file edit help Template Attached KML Interstate 264 Kentucky KML is from Wikidata nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Interstate 264 Kentucky Interstate Guide com Interstate 264 KY page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Interstate 264 Kentucky amp oldid 1154002352, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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