LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Drivers were in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours after the Sherman Minton Bridge's eastbound lanes were temporarily closed on Friday.
Matthew Yates was on his way towards the Sherman Minton and quickly found out it's eastbound lanes were closed after a crash where a truck damaged a painter's platform on the bridge Friday afternoon.
"I thought it was open, and of course it wasn't, then I had to go all the way to Jeffersonville across the [John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge] and pay the $5 toll," said Yates.
He was concerned since he was initially told the bridge would be closed until further notice in addition to the westbound lanes, which will remain closed until next Wednesday.
"To some it might not be that big of a deal, but I mean, to others, I'm pinching pennies," Yates said.
Eventually, the Sherman Minton eastbound lanes reopened after 8 p.m. on Friday night.
Bella Roma owner Michel Nasseem was also worried. His restaurant is normally packed at 6:15 p.m. on Fridays.
He said most of his customers were stuck in traffic coming from Louisville to New Albany.
"I've been over here for almost 15 years but I've never seen like here, my tables are all empty," Naseem said.
He is concerned about his business with the construction and temporary closures on the bridge.
"When you ask anybody when it's going to reopen, nobody knows anything," Nasseem said.
Phase 5 of construction on the bridge started in May 2024 and is expected to last through late summer according to the Sherman Minton Renewal's website.
Dan Hardesty, owner of Eureka Menswear, felt Nasseem's frustration.
"Every time you look, there is construction on the bridge," he said.
His vintage clothing store was also impacted a year ago by major construction in the area.
"We always joke around saying gosh they could've built another bridge or two bridges by the time this thing is done," Hardesty said.
In the meantime, Yates is hoping there is a solution to have the Sherman Minton Bridge fully reopen one day.
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