Not everyone is happy with Lexington’s “Sunset Split” project designed to fix major traffic problems along the Sunset Boulevard and Corley Mill corridor.

The Chronicle received some feedback in response to a recent article on the public meeting hosted by the Town of Lexington to invite public input on the $36 million project. In the article, Lexington officials reported the July 10 meeting was a “positive” event. Many citizens had concerns about the project and asked questions. Town officials said the staff compiled a list of all of the issues raised at the meeting.

Lexington Town Administrator Rachelle Gleaton said the concerns expressed by citizens did not reflect any particular problems with the project. She said the public did not display a negative view of the plan.

Mayor Pro-Tem Ron Williams said the questions citizens raised about the new road improvement plan were the kind of concerns town officials were expecting. No one appeared to be angry about the plan, he said. They just wanted to know the details.

But in Facebook postings, a local resident described the meeting as a “funeral visitation.”

Concerns were made about access problems that would require motorists to make U-turns to get onto Highway 378. Questions were raised about delivery truck access to some commercial sites.

Another Facebook posting described the projects as a “disaster death trap.”

But Mayor Hazel Livingston said she did not notice a lot of angry people at the meeting. In an interview with the Chronicle, Livingston said there were a lot of comments from a lot of people expressing different concerns, but overall she thought the meeting was “positive.”

Councilman Gavin Smith, who was present at the meeting, said he would also describe the event as “positive." He said he did not notice any anger at the gathering.

Smith said the meeting was part of a continuous effort to get public input into the project and to address any concerns.

He described the event as “a huge step in the right direction.”

To rid traffic congestion and help traffic flow, the project will split eastbound and westbound traffic lanes on Highway 378 and readjust Riverchase Way and Corley Mill Road locations along the corridor.

Construction is projected to start in late 2025, with an anticipated completion date sometime in 2027.