Editing Interstate 265

{{short description|Highway in Indiana and Kentucky}}
{{distinguish|text = the former [[Interstate 265 (Tennessee)|Interstate 265]] in Tennessee}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox road
| country = USA
| marker_image = [[File:I-265.svg|80px]]{{spaces|2}}[[File:Indiana 265.svg|80px]]{{spaces|2}}[[File:Elongated circle 841.svg|80px]]
| map = {{maplink-road|from=Interstate 265.map}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = I-265 (signed) highlighted in red;<br />signed as KY 841 in cyan;<br />signed as IN 265 in blue;<br />non-concurrent KY 841 in purple
| name = Interstate 265/Indiana SR 265/Kentucky 841
| alternate_name = Gene Snyder Freeway (Kentucky);<br>Lee H. Hamilton Freeway (Indiana)
| maint = [[INDOT]] and [[Kentucky Transportation Cabinet|KYTC]]
| established = 1977
| spur_type = I
| restrictions = No [[Dangerous goods|hazardous goods]] on [[Lewis and Clark Bridge (Ohio River)|Lewis and Clark Bridge]] and East End Tunnel
| spur_of = 65
| length_mi = 41.71
| length_ref = <ref name="fhwa">{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2021 |title=Table 2 – Auxiliary Routes – FHWA Route Log and Finder List – Interstate Highway System – National Highway System – Planning |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm |access-date=March 18, 2022 |website=[[Federal Highway Administration|Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)]] |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]] |archive-date=February 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213083642/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| length_notes = 
| allocation = {{jct|state=NV|I|265|nolink1=yes}} from [[New Albany, IN]] to [[Louisville, KY]]<br />{{jct|state=KY|KY|841|nolink1=yes}} in Louisville, KY
| direction_a = Counterclockwise
| terminus_a = {{Jct|state=IN|I|64|US|150|SR|62}} near [[New Albany, IN]]
| direction_b = Clockwise
| terminus_b = {{Jct|state=KY|US|31W|US|60|KY|1934}} in Louisville, KY
| beltway_city = [[Louisville, KY]]
| junction = {{Jct|state=IN|I|65}} near [[Jeffersonville, IN]]<br />{{Jct|state=KY|I|71}} in [[Louisville, KY]]<br />{{Jct|state=KY|I|64}} in Louisville, KY<br />{{Jct|state=KY|I|65}} in Louisville, KY
| states = [[Kentucky]], [[Indiana]]
| counties = '''KY:''' [[Jefferson County, Kentucky|Jefferson]]<br />'''IN:''' [[Clark County, Indiana|Clark]], [[Floyd County, Indiana|Floyd]]
| system1 = {{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=IN}}
| system2 = {{infobox road/browselinks/USA|state=KY}}
| browse = {{in browse|previous_type=IN|previous_route=264|route=IN|next_type=IN|next_route=267}}{{ky browse|previous_type=I|previous_route=264|route=KY|next_type=KY|next_route=266}}{{ky browse|previous_type=KY|previous_route=788|route=KY&nbsp;841|next_type=KY|next_route=864}}
}}

'''Interstate&nbsp;265''' ('''I-265''') is a {{convert|41.71|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Interstate Highway]] partially encircling the [[Louisville metropolitan area]]. Starting from [[Interstate 65 in Kentucky|I-65]] in the southern part of Louisville, it runs through [[Jefferson County, Kentucky]], crosses the [[Ohio River]] on the [[Lewis and Clark Bridge (Ohio River)|Lewis and Clark Bridge]] into Indiana, meets I-65 for a second time, and then proceeds westbound to terminate at the [[Interstate 64 in Indiana|I-64]] interchange.

The entire Kentucky stretch of the road is cosigned with '''Kentucky Route&nbsp;841''' (KY&nbsp;841). An additional {{convert|10.25|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} stretch of freeway between [[U.S. Route 31W]] (US&nbsp;31W)/[[U.S. Route 60 in Kentucky|US&nbsp;60]]/[[Kentucky Route 1934|KY&nbsp;1934]] and I-65 in the southern Louisville is solely designated as KY&nbsp;841. The portion from I-71 to the Ohio River, while designated as I-265 by AASHTO, is only signed as KY 841. The highway is named the '''Gene Snyder Freeway''' (originally named the '''Jefferson Freeway'''), after the [[Gene Snyder|former congressman from Kentucky]], and usually called "the Snyder" by locals.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

Likewise on the Indiana side, the stretch from I-65 to the bridge, while designated as I-265 is signed as State Route 265 (SR&nbsp;265). The highway is known as the '''Lee H. Hamilton Freeway''' after the [[Lee Hamilton|former congressman from Indiana]].{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

I-265 signage for the section from I-71 to the Indiana I-65 interchange has not yet been placed.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

==Route description==
{{lengths table|length_ref=<ref name=fhwa />}}
|-
| [[Indiana|IN]] || {{convert|13.11|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
| [[Kentucky|KY]] || {{convert|28.6|mi|km|disp=table}}
|-
| '''Total''' || {{convert|41.71|mi|km|disp=table}}
|}

===Indiana===
[[File:IN 265.jpg|right|thumb|Former [[State Road 265 (Indiana)|SR&nbsp;265]] (now I-265) at its former eastern terminus at [[State Road 62 (Indiana)|SR&nbsp;62]] (this interchange has since been reconfigured)]]

I-265 in the US state of Indiana presently runs {{convert|13.11|mi|km}} from I-64 at the western edge of [[New Albany, Indiana|New Albany]] to the Lewis and Clark Bridge near [[Utica, Indiana|Utica]].<ref name=fhwa /><ref name="indot2015">{{cite web|title=INDOT Reference Post Book – July 2015|url=http://www.in.gov/indot/files/INDOT_Reference_Post_Book_2015.pdf|publisher=Indiana Department of Transportation|access-date=December 25, 2016|archive-date=February 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206235438/http://in.gov/indot/files/INDOT_Reference_Post_Book_2015.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Beginning at its western terminus, the freeway is concurrent with [[Indiana State Road 62|State Road&nbsp;62]] (SR&nbsp;62) until exit&nbsp;10.

===Kentucky===
I-265 in the U.S. state of [[Kentucky]] presently runs {{convert|28.6|mi|km}} from the [[Lewis and Clark Bridge (Ohio River)|Lewis and Clark Bridge]] in northern [[Louisville]] to an interchange with [[Interstate 65 in Kentucky|I-65]] in southern Louisville.<ref name=fhwa /><ref name="indot2015"/> The entire freeway is concurrent with KY&nbsp;841.

The Gene Snyder Freeway, in which KY&nbsp;841 and I-265 overlap for {{convert|24.48|mi|km}} between I-65 and the Indiana state line, has seen an increase in serious accidents. The primary factors stem from its low-level grass median which offers little to no protection for crossover incidents. Driver inattention and increased traffic and congestion has led to a decline in the overall level-of-service. In 2006, [[cable barrier]]s were installed in the median for {{convert|10|mi|km}} between I-71 and [[Interstate 64 in Kentucky|I-64]], with further installation possible in the near future.<ref>{{cite press release|first=Doug |last=Hogan |date=January 20, 2006 |url=http://migration.kentucky.gov/newsroom/kytc/cable+barriers.htm |title=Governor Fletcher & Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Move Forward with Safety Measures for Interstate Highways: Median Cable Barriers to Be Installed at Two Jefferson County Locations |publisher=[[Kentucky Transportation Cabinet]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927055724/http://www.kentucky.gov/Newsroom/kytc/cable%2Bbarriers.htm |archive-date=September 27, 2006 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> For many years, a section of the freeway spanning from exit 30 to exit 32 was signed in [[kilometer]]s, which is unusual in the United States.<ref name="wfpl">{{cite news |last1=Stevens |first1=Ashlie |title=Curious Louisville: Why Is A Stretch Of Louisville Highway Measured In Kilometers? |url=https://wfpl.org/curious-louisville-why-is-a-stretch-of-louisville-highway-measured-in-kilometers/ |work=89.3 WFPL News Louisville |date=June 14, 2019 |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617134935/https://wfpl.org/curious-louisville-why-is-a-stretch-of-louisville-highway-measured-in-kilometers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Most but not all of the kilometer-based signs were replaced with mile-only signage as part of an expansion project set for completion in fall 2024.

===Kentucky Route 841===
{{Infobox road small
|state=KY
|type=KY
|route=841
|location=[[Louisville, Kentucky]]
|length_mi={{convert|38.881|mi|km}}
|length_ref=https://maps.kytc.ky.gov/generalhighway/
|length_round=
|formed=
|deleted=
}}
'''Kentucky Route&nbsp;841''' ('''KY&nbsp;841''') is a {{convert|38.9|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[state highway]] in the suburbs of Louisville. The route is a partial beltway, encircling Louisville on its southern and eastern sides. Compass direction changes to the north and south of exit&nbsp;23, the Taylorsville Road interchange. The western terminus of the route is at [[U.S. Route 31W (Kentucky)|US&nbsp;31W]] and [[U.S. Route 60 in Kentucky|US&nbsp;60]] in the southwest Louisville community of [[Valley Station]], where KY&nbsp;841 continues to the west as [[Kentucky Route 1934|KY&nbsp;1934]] while the northern terminus is at the Lewis and Clark Bridge north of the north of the East End Tunnel. Even though the section between its terminus at KY&nbsp;1934 and [[Interstate 65 in Kentucky|I-65]] was built to Interstate Highway standards, it is designated only as KY&nbsp;841 due to [[American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials]] (AASHTO) numbering rules.{{Cn|date=March 2023}} The exit numbering for the Kentucky portion of beltway currently starts at the western terminus of KY&nbsp;841. The KY&nbsp;841 designation mostly concurrent with I-265 in Kentucky has remained.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Special Committee on U. S. Route Numbering – 2019 Spring Meeting Report to the Council on Highways and Streets |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/v3-app_crowdc/assets/3/31/31119030d9a75754/Final_Report_to_CHS_USRN_Application_Results_Spring_2019.original.1558475352.pdf?1558475353 |access-date=March 22, 2022 |website=s3.amazonaws.com |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703051720/https://s3.amazonaws.com/v3-app_crowdc/assets/3/31/31119030d9a75754/Final_Report_to_CHS_USRN_Application_Results_Spring_2019.original.1558475352.pdf?1558475353 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Junction 31E I265.JPG|thumb|Junction of [[U.S. Route 31E in Kentucky|US&nbsp;31E]] and KY&nbsp;841]]
=== Kentucky portion ===
Originally signed as KY&nbsp;841, the Jefferson Freeway was initially constructed in the 1960s in two sections—one between [[Kentucky Route 155|KY&nbsp;155]] (Taylorsville Road) and [[U.S. Route 60 in Kentucky|US&nbsp;60]] (Shelbyville Road) and a second section between [[Kentucky Route 1447|KY&nbsp;1447]] (Westport Road) and [[U.S. Route 42 in Kentucky|US&nbsp;42]]—as short connectors to the eastern suburban expansion as well as a [[Kentucky Truck Assembly|new Ford plant]]. By 1970, [[Interstate 264 (Kentucky)|I-264]] had become very congested and was in need of reconstruction and other improvements. I-265 was proposed as an outer beltway to provide pass-through motorists relief from the congestion of I-264. Construction started in the early 1980s and was finished later that decade and signed in 1987.
{{Infobox road small
|state=IN
|type=IN
|route=265
|location=[[Clarksville, Indiana|Clarksville]]—[[Utica, Indiana]]
|length_mi=6.2
|length_ref=
|length_round=
|formed=1977
|deleted=2023
}}

=== Indiana portion ===
Originally signed as '''State Road&nbsp;265''' ('''SR&nbsp;265'''), the segment of the highway stretched from I-64 to I-65. It was later extended to [[Indiana State Road 60|SR&nbsp;60]], today's exit&nbsp;10. The freeway was legally rechristened in June&nbsp;2019 to I-265 after a new {{convert|7.7|mi|km|adj=on}} section of highway that includes the Lewis and Clark Bridge (known as the East End Bridge during planning and construction) fully opened to traffic on December&nbsp;18, 2016, however the SR 265 signs along the road and the exits still remain and have not been updated to I-265 signage, while the Kentucky portion of the new roadway likewise has not had I-265 signage added as of yet. In early 2023, Indiana DOT announced plans to redesignate as well as renumber the exits of the freeway beginning in the fall of 2023 and with completion expected over the {{Update after|2025|12|text=next two years|reason=See INDOT reference}}.<ref name=INrenumbering>{{Cite web |last=INDOT |date=February 16, 2023 |title=I 265 Resigning |url=https://www.in.gov/indot/about-indot/central-office/welcome-to-the-seymour-district/i-265-resigning/ |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=INDOT |language=en |archive-date=March 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309003453/https://www.in.gov/indot/about-indot/central-office/welcome-to-the-seymour-district/i-265-resigning/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of February 2025, I-265 signage exists from the western terminus at I-64 to Charlestown Pike, about a mile west of the IN 62 interchange.

=== East End Bridge ===
Negotiations between Indiana and Kentucky to build the bridge had taken place over the preceding 30&nbsp;years.

In late 2005, members of the [[Louisville Metro Council]] proposed a committee to begin planning a western bridge over the Ohio River to link the southwestern end of the highway in Kentucky to Indiana.

On December&nbsp;18, 2016, SR&nbsp;265 was extended east of SR&nbsp;62, which crosses the Ohio River connecting with KY&nbsp;841, and north of US&nbsp;42 in Kentucky as part of the [[Ohio River Bridges Project]], creating a bypass around the eastern side of the city of Louisville.

The I-265/I-64 interchange, previously a cloverleaf with no [[collector–distributor lane]]s,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Interstate 64 at Interstate 265 Interchange Reconstruction {{!}} KYTC |url=https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictFive/Pages/Interstate-64-at-Interstate-265-Interchange-Reconstruction.aspx |access-date=March 23, 2022 |website=transportation.ky.gov |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223172235/https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictFive/Pages/Interstate-64-at-Interstate-265-Interchange-Reconstruction.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> was reconstructed as part of the I-Move Kentucky project, with estimated completion originally set for fall 2023 but delayed to fall 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About – I-Move Kentucky |url=https://i-moveky.com/about/ |access-date=March 23, 2022 |website=i-moveky.com |archive-date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223172234/https://i-moveky.com/about/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Exit list==
{{jcttop|old|state_col=state|exit_ref=<ref name=INrenumbering />}}
{{KYint|old
|sspan=16
|county=Jefferson
|cspan=16
|location=Louisville
|lspan=7
|mile=10.2
|old=10
|exit=<!-- 0 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|I|65|location1=[[Nashville]]|city2=Louisville}}
|notes=I-65 exit 125; signed as exits 10A (north) and 10B (south) westbound<br />Continues as KY 841 past this exit}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=11.7
|old=12
|exit=<!-- 1 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|KY|61|name1=Preston Highway}}
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=13.5
|old=14
|exit=<!-- 3 -->
|road=Smyrna Road
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=15.2
|old=15
|exit=<!-- 4 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|KY|864|name1=Beulah Church Road}}
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=17.3
|old=17
|exit=<!-- 6 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|US|31E|US|150|city1=Bardstown|city2=Louisville}}
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=19.4
|old=19
|exit=<!-- 8 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|KY|1819|name1=Billtown Road}}
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=23.1
|old=23
|exit=<!-- 12 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|KY|155|city1=Jeffersontown|city2=Taylorsville}}
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|location=Middletown
|lspan=2
|mile=25.5
|old=25
|exit=<!-- 14 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|I|64|city1=Lexington|city2=Louisville}}
|notes=I-64 exit 19; signed as exits 25A (east) & 25B (west).}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=26.8
|old=27
|exit=<!--16 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|US|60|name1=Shelbyville Road|city1=Middletown|location2=[[Eastwood, Louisville|Eastwood]]}}
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|location=Louisville
|lspan=5
|mile=28.7
|old=29
|exit=<!-- 18 -->
|road=Old Henry Road
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=30.4
|old=30
|exit=<!-- 19 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|KY|146|name1=La Grange Road|city1=Anchorage|city2=Pewee Valley}}
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=32.5
|old=32
|exit=<!-- 21 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|KY|1447|name1=Westport Road|road|Chamberlain Lane}}
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=34.0
|old=34
|exit=<!-- 23 -->
|road={{Jct|state=KY|KY|22|name1=Brownsboro Road|city1=Crestwood}}
|notes=}}
{{KYint|old
|mile=34.7
|old=35
|exit=24
|road={{Jct|state=KY|I|71|location1=[[Cincinnati]]|location2=[[Louisville]]}}
|notes=I-71 exit 9; signed as exits 35A (east) & 35B (west)}}
{{KYint|old
|location=Prospect
|lspan=2
|type=incomplete
|mile=37.0
|old=37
|exit=26
|road={{Jct|state=KY|US|42|city1=Prospect}}
|notes=Northbound exit and southbound entrance only; last northbound exit before toll}}
{{KYint|old
|tunnel=Louisville East End Tunnel}}
{{jctbridge|old
|river=[[Ohio River]]
|type=etc
|river_wide=yes
|mile=38.9
|mile2=13.11
|line=y
|bridge=[[Lewis and Clark Bridge (Ohio River)|Lewis and Clark Bridge]] (Opened December 18, 2016); at state line – north end of KY 841 concurrency}}
{{INint|old
|sspan=7
|county=Clark
|cspan=3
|location=Utica
|mile=11.81
|old=11
|exit=29
|road=International Drive/Old Salem Road – River Ridge
|notes=Opened December 18, 2016; last eastbound exit before toll}}
{{INint|old
|location=Jeffersonville
|lspan=2
|mile=9.63
|old=10
|exit=32
|type=concur
|road={{Jct|state=IN|SR|62|dir1=east|city1=Charlestown|city2=Jeffersonville}}&nbsp;via 10th Street
|notes=East end of SR 62 concurrency; double roundabout exit also provides access to/from Port Street}}
{{INint|old
|mile=6.94
|old=7
|exit=34
|road={{Jct|state=IN|I|65|location1=[[Indianapolis]] |location2=[[Louisville]]}}
|notes=I-65 exit 6;  signed as exits 7A (north) and 7B (south) westbound}}
{{INint|old
|county=Floyd
|cspan=4
|location=New Albany
|lspan=4
|mile=4.52
|old=4
|exit=37
|road=Charlestown Road
|notes=Former [[Indiana State Road 311|SR 311]]}}
{{INint|old
|mile=3.35
|old=3
|exit=38
|road=Grant Line Road
|notes=Former [[Indiana State Road 111|SR 111]]}}
{{INint|old
|mile=0.97
|old=1
|exit=40
|road=State Street
|notes=}}
{{INint|old
|type=concur
|mile=0.00
|old=0
|exit=41
|road={{Jct|state=IN|I|64|US|150|SR|62|dir3=west|city1=New Albany|location2=[[Louisville]]|location3=[[St. Louis]]}}
|notes=I-64 exit 121; western terminus; west end of SR 62 concurrency; westbound exit and eastbound entrance; both ramps are signed as exit 0}}
{{jctbtm|col=9|keys=concur,etc}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Indiana|Kentucky|U.S. roads}}
* [[List of roads in Louisville, Kentucky]]
{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.kentuckyroads.com/i-265/ KentuckyRoads.com: I-265]

{{3di|65}}
{{Named Roads in Kentucky}}

[[Category:Interstate Highways in Indiana|65-2]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Kentucky|65-2]]
[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways|65-2]]
[[Category:Interstate 65|2]]
[[Category:Transportation in Jefferson County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Transportation in Louisville, Kentucky|0265]]
[[Category:Transportation in Clark County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Transportation in Floyd County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Beltways in the United States]]