Changes Ahead: Construction Continues in East Oak St. Area

The orange cones and detours will soon return to the East Oak Street area in the Shelby Park and Germantown neighborhoods. Construction crews paused Louisville Water’s project over the summer for the “peak season” of water usage.

Oak St. construction

Since the project began in July 2024, workers have covered quite a bit of ground to replace the large transmission water main installed in 1891.

Crews used two different methods throughout the project. In the first phase, they performed a sliplining technique where a new pipe essentially slid into the original pipe. Phase two is a more complex process; it requires digging out the old pipe to replace it while carefully maneuvering around other utility lines.

Workers will “dig and replace” when construction is scheduled to resume the week of October 19.

For the first time during this project, our work will branch off of Oak Street. Two crews will start at opposite ends and work simultaneously until they eventually meet in the middle.

Oak Glenmary map

One crew will begin on East Oak Street between South Hancock and South Clay. The other will start at East Kentucky and Vine streets.

From this fall until the summer of 2027, expect work in these areas:

  • Oak St. between South Hancock and South Clay
  • South Clay St. between Oak and East St. Catherine
  • East St. Catherine St. between South Clay and South Shelby
  • South Shelby St. between Mary and East St. Catherine
  • East St. Catherine St. between South Shelby and Swan
  • Swan St. between East St. Catherine and East Kentucky
  • East Kentucky St. between Swan and Vine

East KY Vine intersectionWhile we may need to limit parking and detour drivers around the construction zones, we are committed to providing access for local traffic. Please follow the signage and drive slowly to keep everyone safe.

Why are we doing this?

The new 48-inch pipe will carry water from our Crescent Hill Water Treatment Plant to the Brook Street water main. This is a vital connection to supply high-quality drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in southern Jefferson County.

We anticipate finishing the entire project in the summer.

Learn more about the Oak Street Area Project on LouisvilleWater.com. For regular updates, sign up for our newsletter.