News Summary
Lexington County is set to initiate the Sunset Split project to address severe traffic congestion on U.S. Highway 378. The project, expected to be completed by 2027, will alleviate congestion at the Corley Mill Road and Sunset Boulevard intersection and improve overall traffic flow. With over 50,000 vehicles using this junction daily and a record of 88 crashes between 2022 and 2024, community feedback remains optimistic despite initial concerns about traffic disruptions during construction.
Lexington County is set to launch the “Sunset Split” project aimed at alleviating chronic traffic congestion along U.S. Highway 378. Officials anticipate that significant improvements to the intersection of Corley Mill Road and Sunset Boulevard will help to minimize the severe congestion experienced in this area by the target completion date of 2027.
The Sunset Split project will split the eastbound and westbound traffic on U.S. Highway 378. A critical component of the project includes relocating Corley Mill Road slightly to the west, facilitating better traffic flow through one of the county’s most notorious bottlenecks. Traffic volume currently exceeds 50,000 vehicles per day at this intersection.
This intersection, unfortunately, has a troubling safety record. Between 2022 and 2024, there were 88 reported crashes at the junction of Corley Mill Road and Sunset Boulevard, with many incidents occurring during peak traffic times—namely lunchtime on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This has made it one of the highest crash rate intersections in Lexington County, primarily due to its high traffic volume and proximity to I-20.
Local resident observations highlight frequent traffic congestion, especially noticeable during evening peak hours, which has added urgency to the project’s priorities. Community feedback has generally been optimistic regarding the potential benefits of the construction, despite concerns that initial phases may exacerbate traffic conditions during ongoing work.
As of now, construction has not commenced, as officials are finalizing property acquisitions within the project area. Randy Edwards, the Lexington Transportation Director, has indicated that final revisions will soon be submitted to the Department of Transportation (DOT). Following these submissions, the approval process will allow for modifications to the designs and planning elements to proceed, with expectations set for construction to begin as early as January 2027.
The funding for the Sunset Split project was bolstered in June 2024, when $16 million was reallocated from a proposed conference center project based on public input that prioritized critical infrastructure needs. The total estimated cost of the Sunset Split project stands at $36 million, with no significant budget increase expected due to the project’s unchanged scope.
Currently, the project timeline is facing challenges, being approximately six months behind schedule as a result of delays in receiving the necessary approvals from the DOT. Following final approvals, the design and planning phase is projected to last approximately 12 to 18 months, leading to anticipated construction completion by 2027.
The Sunset Split project symbolizes a significant investment in Lexington County’s transportation infrastructure, aimed at reducing congestion and improving safety for the thousands of drivers who traverse this busy intersection daily.
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Additional Resources
- WLTX: South Carolina Traffic Congestion
- Post and Courier: Lexington DOT Sunset Split Approval
- WIS TV: Lexington County Residents Input on Lake Murray Road Project
- The State: Local News Article
- WLTX: Lexington Traffic Study
- Wikipedia: Traffic Congestion
- Google Search: South Carolina traffic projects
- Google Scholar: Road construction traffic improvement
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Road safety
- Google News: Traffic congestion South Carolina
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
