Gridlock Caused By I-65 Construction Affecting Area Drivers, Businesses - wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports

By Frances Kuo

(LOUISVILLE) -- In case higher gas prices weren't enough, Kentucky drivers are now faced with another headache just in time for spring break. Construction began Tuesday on parts of I-65, snarling traffic and raising tempers. WAVE 3's Frances Kuo investigates the cause of all the frustration.

At the Ridgefield Greenhouse and Nursery in Shepherdsville, the flowers are blooming. But business isn't booming.

"I thought we had a good location by I-65, direct access to Louisville," said owner Tony Thomas. "Not this spring."

Thomas usually starts shipping his flowers in March, with 90 percent going to Jefferson County. The fastest way to get there: I-65. But the interstate has been besieged with traffic problems.

That means orders haven't been delivered as quickly as in the past.

"I have a lot of angry buyers then," Thomas said. "They're wanting their product when they order it, and not being able to deliver when they order it makes it a little tough on me."

Crews began work Tuesday on stretches of I-65 through Shepherdsville and Bullitt County to reconstruct the bridge across the Salt River.

At one point, the interstate was down to one lane in both directions. Brenda Underwood said she "spent two-and-a-half hours trying to get from Ottoman Hospital to Shepherdsville."

While she waited, Underwood said she "smoked the last three cigarettes I had and griped, but you couldn't do anything about it."

And Underwood said getting off the interstate to find an alternate route isn't much help, since hundreds of other drivers were "No matter what back roads you took, it was bumper-to-bumper."

To make matters worse, Underwood said she suffers from back problems. "I was very aggravated. I was in terrible pain. And I wanted to go home."

For Thomas, time is money, and when his drivers are sitting in traffic, that's wasted time, money and gas. "In time and gas, per day, I'd say $100."

Online Reporter: Frances Kuo

Online Producer: Michael Dever