Fast, reliable & cost effective Equipment Transport

This guide helps shippers move heavy equipment with fewer delays and better safety. Shelby County’s I-64 corridor is in a $118 million widening and repaving project through Fall 2027, including a rebuilt KY 53 interchange and multiple bridge replacements at Zaring Mill, Mount Eden, and Hooper Station.

In District 9, stretches between Cannonsburg and Catlettsburg have seen milling, paving, lane shifts, one-lane operations, and a 55 mph limit in active work areas. Expect on-ramp yield rules and short-notice changes that affect lowboy trailers and oversize loads.

Use the kentucky transportation cabinet and District 9 social channels for real-time updates via GoKY.ky.gov and Waze. This article shows timing tips, alternate routes, and how to brief motorists to use caution and watch for warning signs inside highway work zones.

Follow these steps to keep schedules intact, reduce exposure to traffic impacts, and keep customers informed when a project phase expands its footprint.

What’s happening on I-64 right now and why it matters for heavy machinery shippers

Major lane work and bridge replacements in Shelby County are creating frequent traffic shifts along an 11-mile corridor. That work adds a third lane each direction from KY 55 to the Shelbyville weigh station and repaves from Buck Creek Road to KY 55. Expect periodic closures and changing traffic patterns through Fall 2027.

Major Shelby County widening and repaving

The project covers roughly 11 miles and will keep two lanes open in many phases. Still, lane shifts, narrowed shoulders, and tie-ins to new pavement will affect clearances for wide loads.

Bridge work at Zaring Mill, Mount Eden, and Hooper Station includes replacements or widenings. Some bridge approaches may close for about 90 to 120 days during specific phases.

District 9 hotspots: Cannonsburg–Catlettsburg

Mile markers 184–191 have had milling and paving with one lane open each direction. Expect right-lane closures approaching work areas, on-ramp yield signs, and a posted 55 mph speed limit to reduce crash risk.

Reliable sources for current conditions

Use authoritative feeds to get live information. Check GoKY.ky.gov, Waze, and KYTC District 9 social media for updates before a move.

• Tip: Verify lane closures and traffic changes the morning of a pickup.
• Tip: Factor pavement operations into braking and stability plans for lowboys and outriders.
• Tip: Stagger departures to avoid flagging cycles and short‑notice rolling closures.

Avoiding I-64 Kentucky construction zones when shipping machinery

Plan routes around known work windows and peak crew activity to reduce hold times at mobile operations. Start with a brief pre-run check of official feeds and a route worksheet that notes narrow shoulders and low-clearance risks.

“Check GoKY and the district road report the morning of pickup — it saves hours and prevents surprise delays.”

Plan alternate corridors and timing

Skip typical a.m. p.m. and a.m. p.m. daily shifts to avoid setup and takedown spikes. Use the district road report and the transportation cabinet feed to pre-route around expected lane closures and rolling closures.

Account for changing traffic and one-lane operations

Train drivers to spot a traffic controlled approach and follow pilot car instructions. When expect delays notices appear, pivot to secondary corridors or stagger pickups.

• Document alternate routes by lanes and direction, noting clearances and weight postings.
• Assign staging on wide shoulders or lots during one-lane operations.
• Keep a shared playbook referencing recent traffic shifted callouts and lane closures flagged by crews.

Step-by-step tactics to route, schedule, and move safely around work zones

Plan each move with mapped detours around Shelbyville’s KY 53 interchange work and the bridge closures at Zaring Mill and Hooper Station. Pre-build outbound and inbound alternates, mark miles and vertical clearances, and schedule most p.m. daily moves to avoid school zones and local peaks.

Detours near Shelbyville and bridge closures

Stage convoys before the approaching work zone. Brief pilots on barrel layouts and taper lengths. Assign a spacer vehicle to watch rear traffic and keep clearance for lowboys crossing temporary plates.

Boyd County: Coalton–Cannonsburg–Catlettsburg guidance

Watch lane closures and keep the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour through active road work. Expect right-lane closures, on-ramp yield rules, and compressed lanes that affect turning radii.

One-lane traffic and controlled flaggers

Use caution near the Little Sandy River and downtown Grayson where one-lane traffic controlled operations take place. Coordinate with traffic controlled flaggers and plan windows outside heavy a.m. p.m. flows.

Verify updates before dispatch

Assign a lead to call the district road report one hour pre-dispatch and recheck social channels. Confirm any traffic shifted new patterns and lane closures flagged before you roll.

“Call the district road report and check social media for last‑minute lane or direction changes.”

For real-time road updates and to confirm closures flagged traffic advisories, check the district report and social feed here: real-time updates on road restrictions.

Your next move to keep loads on time and crews safe

Treat each move as dynamic — verify social media and the district road report before the first mile. Shelby County improvements run through Fall 2027, and District 9 still has one-lane traffic controlled work and reduced speeds between Cannonsburg and Catlettsburg.

Set a pre-dispatch SOP that checks the district road report and social media so dispatch sees traffic shifted notices and can watch lane closures. Stagger departures to avoid a.m. p.m. and p.m. daily peaks where one lane configurations are taking place.

Require drivers to reconfirm speed limit signs in each work zone and to use caution around flagged traffic. Deploy pilot cars before approaching work zone patterns and confirm traffic controlled flaggers are staged.

Build backups, capture post-trip notes on lane widths and bottlenecks, and share lessons across crews. For more guidance, see our Kentucky heavy-haul guide to stay aligned with state updates and keep loads moving safely.