LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced overnight lane closures on Interstate 75 Thursday as construction continues on a major widening project aimed at reducing congestion in the city.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the right lane of I-75 northbound will close between mile markers 112 and 113. An hour later, at 7 p.m., the left lane of I-75 southbound will close between mile markers 114 and 113. All lanes will reopen by 6 a.m. Friday.

The temporary closures are necessary for triple lane shifts required to complete the overlay of the Paris Pike bridge, according to KYTC. Motorists should expect delays and consider using alternate routes during the closures, which will span the evening through early morning commutes.

The work is part of the I-75 widening project, the second phase of widening I-64/I-75 in Fayette County. The project will reduce congestion and improve safety throughout the 2-mile corridor from Paris Pike to the I-75/I-64 Southern Split.

The project will widen the Interstate to 8 lanes by adding one 12-foot lane in each direction, along with improvements to ramps at the Paris Pike Interchange and ramps at the Newtown Pike Interchange. Lexington is expected to see traffic growth up to 130,000 vehicles a day by 2040, making the expansion critical for the region's transportation infrastructure.

The work is tentatively scheduled and subject to change depending on weather conditions, emergencies and other factors, KYTC said. For real-time traffic information, motorists can use GoKY or Waze to monitor conditions and plan alternate routes.