A bypass is a road or highway that bypasses a town.

This bypass will divert the flow of 'through' traffic away from the town.

The benefits can be removing some traffic congestion in the town, reducing noise and vibration and improving road safety. An improved town amenity can, combined with other initiatives, make a town centre more attractive to visitors.

The issues that communities face include changed access arrangements and the potential loss of trade to some business that are more dependent on passing trade. This may alter economic activity that could result with through traffic no longer making a decision once they reach the town centre to pull over to take a break and in doing so spend money.

This page contains resources that relate to town bypasses. It includes links to bypass projects, impact reports and a broader literature review of the economic evaluation of town bypasses in Australia and the US. This paper contains information on three key areas of highway bypass impacts - economic impacts, social impacts and community response and mitigation measures.

Oral history - how three towns have changed since being bypassed

Goulburn, Armidale and Karuah. 

To listen to the oral history based on original interviews with members of the local communities, and Roads and Maritime Services staff who were closely involved in the planning and construction of the three bypasses.

Bypass projects list

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