This report describes a study commissioned by the RAC Foundation for Motoring and the Environment to assess the post-construction impact of the A30 Okehampton bypass in Devon. The bypass, which was fully opened in 1989, was constructed to the south of the town of Okehampton and runs through the northern most section of the Dartmoor National Park. The study examined the predicted environmental impacts of the bypass determined, by reference to evidence presented at the Public Inquiry, and compared these to the current environmental indicators along the route. It was found that, in nearly all circumstances, the environmental predictions stood up well to re-examination. A survey of 200 local residents conducted as part of the study sought to gain the views of the town on the success or failure of the bypass. Eighty percent of those interviewed still regarded the bypass as being of real benefit to the town. Many thought, however, that the levels of traffic in the town, particularly heavy goods vehicles, were still too high. It was found that, despite a comprehensive traffic management and environmental improvement scheme having been drawn up for Okehampton, this had not been implemented. It is suggested that many of the town's residual traffic problems could be solved by the implementation of such a scheme. Finally, the study examined the published literature on both the human and environmental impact of bypasses and placed the Okehampton case study within the overall context of the wider debate on roads and the environment. (A)
Abstract