Driving Help - This Years' Breeders' Cup - A Must Read

[Laura Ferguson]

To those driving in and around Louisville for the Breeders’ Cup, there are a couple of heads up traffic wise that you need to know about. They are all related to the shutdown of the Sherman-Minton Bridge, which is the crossing between Indiana and Louisville on I-64.

The re-routing of traffic has led to several problems, none of which are being addressed by the online directions – I’ve just checked both Google Maps and Yahoo Maps.

I-65 SOUTH and I-64 (coming from St. Louis and to/from the Casino)
If you are taking I-64 eastbound from St. Louis, etc., to Louisville, or if you are trying to get to/from the Harrah’s/Horseshoe Casino, good luck. You will be directed to get off of I-64 onto I-265 East, then to I-65 South (if you’re trying to get to the casino or back to St. Louis, you will effectively have to do this in reverse). If you’re familiar with New Albany, you may be able to take some of the local roads to cut out part of this detour, but do this only if you either know New Albany or have a route mapped out in advance. If at all possible do not attempt this drive during morning rush hour.

Because of the detour of all of this traffic to I-65 South, I-65 South heading towards Louisville is a mess. It is a mess even on a Sunday afternoon – I know, I've done it twice in the past two weeks, and cut about 40 minutes off the return trip by taking back roads to the Second Street Bridge versus staying on I-65. Be prepared to add a lot of time to your drive, especially if you're committed to staying on I-65. If you’re feeling brave, the fastest way to negotiate this mess is to abandon I-65 South at the Veteran’s Parkway Exit (Exit 5). Go straight through the traffic light and follow the signs for 31 South. If it looks clear, and you feel like pushing your luck by staying on I-65, you’ve got another shot to bail near Eastern Boulevard, but, at that point, it usually is too late and you’re stuck in that mess. Follow 31 South across the Second Street Bridge, which dumps you into downtown Louisville. The right lane on the Second Street Bridge almost always moves faster than the left.

As you get towards the bottom of the bridge:

If you want to get onto I-64 East, make a right at the bottom of the bridge on Main Street (the YUM Center is on your right), then turn right onto Third Street, then right again onto River Road. On your left, there will be an entrance ramp to I-64 East.

If you want to get back onto I-65 South at that point, go straight at the light at the foot of the bridge (Second Street). Take it straight for about another six lights. The sixth light (the YMCA should be on your left) is where you want to make a left hand turn onto Chestnut. At the next light there is a ramp towards your right that will put you on I-65 South.

One bit of warning about driving on 31 South. It has a slower speed limit than I-65, and the cops are having a lot of fun ticketing people who are driving on 31 South like they are still on a fast-moving I-65.

GETTING FROM I-64 to I-65
The other critical factor drivers need to know is that Exit 5 on I-64 is shut down. You cannot get onto I-65 from I-64 at that exit. The best way, for people in the area, is probably to take the Watterson Expressway towards Churchill/Airport and get on I-65 from there (or if coming from Churchill, just head towards the I-65 exit on the Watterson). The signs on I-64 telling you what to do are somewhat confusing, and if you are trying to get to Churchill, give you a longer way to go. It is possible to get off I-64 at the Third Street exit and loop through downtown to get on I-65, but depending on the time of day, that can be a mess, and you really need to know downtown to pull that one off.

If any of my directions are unclear, please let me know, and I'll try to provide additional help. Have fun!

[Laura Ferguson]

I will add that, when traffic is really bad, 31 South is slow, too, but the back roads you can take to get off of that to the bridge involve a ton of turns, so I hesitate to post those directions here, as I'm more likely to get someone hopelessly lost. If you really want them, pm me and I'll pass them along. Still 31 South is usually a faster option than I-65 South (except for really late at night) in terms of crossing the Ohio River.

[Louise Bayou]

I am coming from Louisiana Laura so will this affect me as well? I will have my GPS and I am hoping that doesn't get me totally lost.lol

[Ashley Gibson]

I am coming from Louisiana Laura so will this affect me as well? I will have my GPS and I am hoping that doesn't get me totally lost.lol

You should be fine. Shermageddon is nailing the folks having to cross through Indiana, not from the south...

[Laura Ferguson]

Ashley's right - if you're driving up from the south, you'll be fine.

[Franky Dam]

Thanks for the heads up. Not staying at the casino this year but of course I'll be making a couple of stops there. Still going to get screwed with the traffic though as I'm staying Sellersburg and need to take 65. Nothing I love more than sitting in traffic or avoiding the traffic and getting a speeding ticket.

[Franky Dam]

Well that didn't take long! 5 miles into Indiana and nailed. Starting the trip off 151 down without making a wager.