Effects of Bypasses on Communities

When addressing a congestion or safety problem within a town or city, often a bypass is considered as an alternative. Planners and designers must carefully weigh the community impacts that will be caused when considering a bypass. Some considerations include:

Level of access control and impact on traffic flow
Location of bypass relative to central business district and impact on employment growth
Expected impact of new and/or relocated economic activity and employment
Impact of bypass on green space and working farmland

References

KTC Study on the Economic Impact of Bypasses
Highway improvements such as bypass construction typically are motivated by a desire to improve the flow and safety of travel. But, given the importance of travel, transportation improvement projects often can affect the local economy and quality of life. This study assesses these potential impacts. The study was conducted by the University of Kentucky Center for Business and Economic Research, as a part of a subcontract with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.