Highland Way area residents turned a fact-finding information session into an impromptu open forum at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Tuesday to raise concerns over parts of a planned Nashville Road widening project.

Ron Sowell, a nearby resident and a retired Med Center Health executive vice president, said “there was not one person who spoke in favor” of the plan to realign Highland Way with Emmett Avenue to create a four-way intersection at Wednesday’s session.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and city officials hope the proposed change, approved in 2020, will address “safety concerns given the current un-signalized intersection of Highland Way/Nashville Road” and improve traffic flow.

Mayor Todd Alcott, one of several city leaders present, said attendees spoke mostly of the need for more stop signs, traffic bumps and sidewalks along Highland Way to resolve fears of dangerous traffic.

Alcott said the project is currently eyeing two design options, the first of which would re-route Highland Way to sit directly across from Emmett Avenue to create a four-way intersection. The design prompted concerns from numerous area residents, Sowell said.

The second option would make Highland Way into a right-only turn with barriers to prevent crossing traffic, without realignment. Sowell said he hopes to see that design implemented.

Alcott called option one a “sweetheart deal” as the city would only need to front $100,000 thanks to state contributions. He said if the first design option does not receive approval from the city, the second option “will automatically happen at this point.”

Sowell said residents were initially expected to review information presented by officials, ask questions, complete a survey and leave. Sowell said with over 100 residents in attendance, the crowd “felt it was a good opportunity to have a direct conversation” with city and state officials.

“We pushed for a sit down with the mayor (Wednesday night) and he agreed to hold an impromptu meeting with us, and we very much appreciate that,” Sowell said.

Sowell said most concerns revolved around fears that a realignment would lead to faster, denser traffic on Highland Way, adding that the narrowness of the road already presents safety issues to drivers and pedestrians.

“It’s already difficult for two large vehicles to pass one another coming opposite directions on Highland without having to slow way down,” Sowell said. “Those of us who use Highland as an exercise path find it very difficult because Highland has no sidewalks.”

He added that one neighbor discussed replacing “over 20 mailboxes” along Highland Way due to damage from cars on the road.

Alcott said adding sidewalks is already a priority for the city to complete a greenway aimed at connecting University Boulevard.

The changes would also result in the removal of speed tables along Highland Way once it is repaved, per city policy. Sowell said several residents proposed additional stop signs along Highland Way to better control through-traffic from Russellville Road across Emmett Avenue.

Sowell said residents asked city officials to vote to rescind their support of the project due to the changes in the area since their last vote of support. Alcott declined to say how he plans to vote in a future commission meeting.

“I know what can happen when inner city bypasses are created, and a neighborhood should not be asked to endure the consequences of that type of project,” Sowell said.