...2027? When Lexington roadwork on I-75, Newtown Pike & New Circle Road will end
.JPG "Tired of sitting in traffic on New Circle Road? Here’s when current road construction projects there and along other major corridors in Lexington are expected to be complete.")
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- State widens I-75, New Circle, Newtown Pike and Leestown to boost capacity.
- I-75 project runs through late 2026; Newtown due spring 2027 and New Circle 2027.
- Projects add lanes, ramps, bridges, noise walls, sidewalks and a trail underpass.
While they may be a headache for commuters, several ongoing state road projects in and around Fayette County could ultimately ease the area’s growing pains by improving traffic capacity, safety and even some pedestrian infrastructure.
That’s the chief takeaway from state officials who recently spoke to the Herald-Leader about construction progress on portions of Interstate 75, New Circle and Leestown roads, along with Newtown Pike.
“Reducing the congestion on these highways is going to increase safety and help people get to where they need to go,” said Allen Blair, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s deputy director of public affairs.
Here’s what to know about each project, including scope and when state officials expect them will be complete.
Construction on I-75 expected to continue until late 2026
Work on a two-phase project to widen Fayette County segments of I-75 from six to eight lanes will likely not conclude until fall 2026, Logan Murphy, a state engineer supervising the project told the Herald-Leader in a recent interview.
The first phase of the project targets a 2-mile stretch of the interstate extending from the Newtown Pike to Paris Pike interchanges. The second phase is for the segment that continues from the Paris Pike interchange down to the I-64/I-75 split.
Phase one work began in September 2022, according to a project description on the KYTC’s website. It was originally expected to be complete by November 2024.
State officials now say the northern section of the I-75 project will remain an active construction zone until the second phase is complete. For logistical and safety reasons, both portions will be opened at the same time, which means the reduced speed limit of 55 mph will remain in effect.
Other traffic controls include shifted or narrowed lanes and barrels or temporary barriers, but neither phase involves lane closures, state officials said. The existing three lanes will remain open in both directions.
While most of the work has been completed for phase one, Murphy said there are some smaller jobs workers still need to complete.
“There’s still some ongoing construction that still keeps it a construction zone,” Murphy said, adding workers aren’t keeping that segment an active work zone for no good reason. “We’re still working through some new additions to that project.”
“We still ask people to slow down, be careful,” Blair said.
Along with the additional lanes, the scope of the I-75 project also includes ramp improvements and noise reducing walls along the corridor.
New Circle/Leestown Road project will eventually bring major traffic shift
Targeted for completion in summer 2027, state officials say this project is part of a larger push to boost traffic capacity on New Circle Road between Versailles Road and Newtown Pike, converting it to three lanes in both directions.
The scope of the project includes the following:
- Add one lane in each direction of New Circle Road from Leestown Road to the Norfolk Southern railroad, taking it from four to six lanes.
- Convert the Leestown Road/New Circle Road interchange to a double crossover diamond pattern.
- Widen Leestown Road from Greendale Road to Lisle Industrial Avenue.
- Widen bridges at Leestown Road and Norfolk Southern Railroad.
- Add sidewalks along both sides of Leestown Road at the interchange.
- Add a sound-reducing wall on the inner loop of the double crossover diamond from Leestown Road to Norfolk Southern railroad bridge.
- Add more than 3,700 feet of noise-reducing walls along the Meadowthorpe neighborhood.
Converting the Leestown/New Circle Road interchange into a double crossover diamond is a major change. As explained by the KYTC, a double crossover diamond, or DCD, is an interchange with two signalized intersections where traffic between the intersections crosses over to the left side of the roadway then back over to the right as it exits.
“It’s going to be a double diamond intersection like what we have at Harrodsburg Road, underneath New Circle there,” Murphy said.
According to KYTC, these types of interchanges offer several benefits, including fewer delays because the traffic signals they use operate with fewer phases. They’re also known to improve safety. DCD’s decrease potential crash points, prevent wrong way ramp entries and reduce speeds to minimize the severity of crashes that do occur.
Newtown Pike project includes pedestrian underpass, other upgrades
According to KYTC, approximately 44,000 vehicles use Newtown Pike daily, and by 2030, that number is expected to rise to 70,500.
The Newtown Pike widening project will add an additional lane in each direction from New Circle Road to I-75.
“It’s going to go from a two-lane stretch to a three-lane stretch of road from New Circle to the interstate,” Murphy said.
He said workers have been out at night because there are limited hours for lane closures. The latest progress on the project includes drainage and sewer work.
“The plan is to still maintain two lanes in each direction through every phase of the project as they continue to work through it,” Murphy added.
Along with the widening, this project also includes several improvements for those passing through the area on foot.
That includes 1,200 feet of new trail connecting Newtown Court to Legacy Trail, which will route bike traffic off Newtown Pike at Newtown Court. New sidewalk and trail improvements will also provide accessible and safe connections, according to the project’s description.
Additionally, the work includes a new underpass to allow pedestrians and runners to avoid the busy Newtown Pike.
“It’s an underpass for the Legacy Trail to get underneath Newtown Pike,” Murphy said.
The Newtown Pike project is expected to be complete in spring 2027.
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This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.