What is a Bypass Impact Study?

Often, communities work for decades to entice their state to invest in significant improvements to the highways that serve their communities. The potential economic impact of a 2-lane to 4-lane conversion is something that many communities yearn for. It takes quite a bit of work and political clout to have such projects funded. But for some cities, the reward is worth the work.

Obviously, there is a general feeling of elation when such projects come to fruition. There’s also hope for growth as the proposed improvements are likely to bring more traffic and have a roll-over impact on economic development.

Highway Bypass

A Double-Edged Sword

However, for many small communities, such projects are a double-edged sword. They are proven to bring more traffic to your community. But not necessarily through your community. In fact, many businesses along the former route often struggle significantly after the bypass opens.

In 1992 the Iowa Department of Transportation published the results of their research of a number of communities in the state that underwent bypass projects through the years. Even though the document is 30 years old, it is quite an interesting read.

At various points throughout the study, they provided quotes from residents of the communities that had been bypassed. Here’s one quote from a business owner in Glenwood, Iowa:

The owner of a Dairy Chef located near the town square said that putting in a new highway is “like turning off your business.” The previous owner of a service station said he had to sell his business because the bypass highway took so much business away from him.

Sometimes the entire community isn’t a fan of the proposed bypass. The small town of Hooper, Nebraska, wasn’t remotely happy about the Highway 275 bypass of their community. Take a few minutes to conduct a Google Streetview ride along Highway 275 near Hooper. All that is viewable of the community from the new route for the highway is a recent housing development and a Dollar General store. Both are outside the city limits. The City erected an entrance monument at the relocated entrance into the community. But the majority of the town rests downhill and out-of-sight from the road. It’s not a good situation for the town of 830 residents.

Issues that a Bypass Impact Study Considers

There are a number of issues that a bypass impact study typically covers in the pages between the covers. Some of the more common ones are:

Land Use/Zoning

What is the current land use and zoning in the area that the bypass will go through? What changes to the future land uses do you see as a result of the construction of the bypass? For example, could the new intersections of local roads with the highway present the possibility of new commercial or industrial development in that area? Make a plan to adjust your community’s Future Land Use Map now to facilitate such development in the future.

Transportation

How will the new bypass affect traffic patterns along the route as well as traffic patterns along the existing route? Will there need to be additional infrastructure improvements to improve potential safety concerns?

Infrastructure/Utilities

Usually, the state department of transportation is the entity who’s typically the entity paying for the bypass. But are they paying for all of the infrastructure or utility adjustments that need to happen as a result of this project? Does a plan for the provision of new infrastructure/utilities need to be made to consider the provision of services to potential new growth areas created by the bypass project?

Environmental Features

Are there watersheds or significant environmental features that could be impacted by the construction of the bypass? What can be done to mitigate the impacts of those potential issues? On the flip side, does the construction of the bypass provide the opportunity to fix current environmental issues?

Economic Development

As stated in Land Use/Zoning, can the project possibly increase the viability of new lands for potential economic development? What does that look like? What type of impact can that have?

Community Design

Regardless of the route that a bypass takes, it will have an immediate and long-term impact on the design of the community. How does that look? How can it look with more proactive involvement from the community?

Example Bypass Impact Studies

A simple Google search will come up with a number of examples of bypass impact studies and other helpful reports. But here are a few for quick reference:

• Shelby, NC – The City of Shelby conducted a series of these plans for each of the interchanges created along the bypass route.
• Portland, TN – The North Gateway Corridor Study takes a look at the impacts of a new interchange with an interstate as well as a bypass for a local state highway.
• Pitt County, NC – The Southwest Bypass Land Use Plan focuses mainly on land uses, but covers a number of issues typically seen in a bypass impact study.
• Bypass Basics Brochure – A simple brochure created by the Florida DOT discussing the basics of what communities need to consider in regard to bypass impacts.
• University of Kentucky Study – A 72-page report on the impacts of a bypass on the local economy and quality of life.

A Good Time to Plan

The construction of a highway bypass of a community will have an impact on your community. It is in the community’s hands to try to limit the negative impacts and enhance the positive impacts. There are few critical turning points in a community, this is one of them. It is important to take the time to make a plan to adjust to this turning point in a community’s future.