Rows of Shelby County residents filled the meeting hall in the Cahaba Grand Conference building on US 280 Monday night to get answers about a proposed elevated highway.

Heather Klusendorf, who lives on the Shelby and Jefferson County line, supports the plan but wonders what life will be like in the meantime.

&8220;It sounds good but it could be made worse before it could get better. Things could be reduced to a crawl by construction and bottle neckers,&8221; Klusendorf said. &8220;We might have five years of hell.&8221;

Lee Sherrill, a resident of Meadowbrook, said he is concerned about the effects the project will have on the beauty of the area.

&8220;If the interchange is not where I live I will drive the whole way under what I call a cave.

I won&8217;t see the sun,&8221; Sherrill said. &8220;For people who live in Chelsea and have to go downtown to work, it would be a marvelous road.&8221;

Joye Sherrill said she wants a solution about as much as anyone. &8220;When you live in Meadowbrook, there is no alternate route,&8221; Sherrill said. &8220;Even on the weekends I drive to the Summit for my hairdresser and it takes at least 20 minutes. Now this is just three or maybe four miles.&8221;

Clarence Crawford, who lives near Oak Mountain, said he is in favor of the project.

&8220;Something definitely has to be done. I&8217;ve seen other structures very much like this and it seems to have worked in other locations,&8221; said Crawford. &8220;I can see no other way to relieve the congestion.&8221;