BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024 September 11, Wednesday)
Don Harrold, Writer / Editor
blairtoday@mail.com – Facebook
For over two decades, Blair, Nebraska, has grappled with an overwhelming influx of semi-truck traffic through its downtown. The issue reached a tragic climax in August 2019 when Jaycoby Estrada, a sixth-grader at Otte Blair Middle School, was fatally struck by a semi-truck while riding his bicycle at the intersection of 19th and Washington Street.
This incident underscored the urgent need for action. As Raeann Smith, who worked in Blair, explained at the time, “Well, the big trucks go too fast, they come too close to the cars that are parked, a person getting out, has to be very careful or they’ll get hit, or their door or mirror will get taken out.”
Damaged side mirrors are frequent on Washington Street. Local body shops confirm this, and I experienced it firsthand: my car’s mirror was shattered within 20 minutes of parking at 17th and Washington.
The volume of truck traffic is staggering: In 2022, City Administrator Rod Storm reported that “anywhere from 3000 to 3600 semis roll through Washington Street on any given day.” This heavy traffic not only poses safety risks but also impacts local businesses and quality of life.
After years of planning and construction, the bypass finally opened in September 2024. And, the community’s reaction is mixed. Many residents report truck traffic through downtown remains largely unchanged. Candidly, when we’ve asked, “Who isn’t using the bypass?” the answer from multiple residents has been: “Trucks.”
Several key concerns have emerged:
- Truck Usage: Residents report minimal truck traffic on the bypass.
- Safety Concerns: The intersection of the bypass and Highway 75 has been flagged as potentially dangerous. As one resident noted, “There are cars & trucks pulling out onto the Highway in front of others because they are getting tired of waiting for traffic to clear.”
- Design Issues: Some residents, particularly those familiar with large vehicles, have questioned the bypass’s design.
- Winter Safety: With Blair’s harsh winters, there are worries about the bypass’s steep grade in icy conditions.
- Signage: Questions have been raised about plans for signage to direct truck traffic to the bypass, as some say current signage appears inadequate.
- Overall Effectiveness: Given the apparent lack of change in downtown truck traffic, some are questioning whether the bypass truly diverts traffic from the city center as intended.
In response to these concerns, City Council Member Jim Sandvold emphasized the need for patience. “The Hollow Road bypass has been open for a very short time,” Sandvold stated. “People are creatures of habit, they will continue to do the same thing forever, until something better comes along and they become aware of it.”
Addressing the apparent lack of truck traffic on the bypass, Sandvold shared his personal observations: “I have driven the road 7-8 times, every time I have driven on it, I have seen 1-3 trucks using the road. It will take time for drivers to become aware of Hollow Rd and the time it will save them, especially nonlocals.”
Sandvold also addressed specific concerns raised by residents:
- Traffic Signals: “The Nebraska Department of Transportation will be doing traffic studies to see if a traffic signal is necessary (we hope soon), it is the decision of the NDOT. We believe that it is necessary and will be doing everything possible to move in that direction.”
- Design Issues: “The design was done by Engineers who are educated and experienced in these thing[s].”
- Winter Safety: “The grade is not as steep as some of the streets in Blair and not as steep as some of the highways coming in and out of Blair. I believe our street crew does an amazing job with all of our streets and roads. I’m sure that they will be on top of any conditions that may occur.”
- Signage: “We are working on signage and that will have to be coordinated with the NDOT.”
Sandvold reminded residents of the project’s original goal: “The intended goal of Hollow Rd, from the beginning, was to remove 25% of the traffic from Washington St.” He believes it’s too early to evaluate the bypass’s overall effectiveness, stating, “I believe it is way too soon to evaluate the overall effectiveness of Hollow Rd.”
Despite concerns, there are some early positive signs. Sandvold noted, “I did talk to one business owner on the south highway 30 corridor and he stated that, to him, it seems like there is more space between cars which makes it easier for him to pull out onto highway 30.”
Brad Earley, executive director of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, echoed Sandvold’s call for patience. “Patience is key. Rome wasn’t built in a day. it’s going to take time for the trucks to realize that there is an easier more direct path to get to where they’re going,” Earley stated.
Councilman Rick Paulsen told us he believes truck usage should increase “once GPS systems are updated” to include the new bypass.
It’s worth considering the broader context of such projects in small towns: The experience of Starke, Florida, offers an interesting parallel. Like Blair, Starke faced controversy over its bypass, but early reports suggest some positive outcomes. In the article, “To Bypass or Not to Bypass”, (Daniel Herriges) one local business owner in Starke noted, “Without passersby clogging up Starke’s dozen-stoplight town, residents are free to travel to the other side without fear of brutal traffic.”
Herriges, the Policy Director at the Parking Reform Network, and who has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota, says in his article, “Catering to the comfort of drivers is a dead end as an economic development strategy. But sometimes, you really do need to get the drivers out of the way in order to move forward.”
The success of a bypass often depends on how a town responds to the change. As Mr. Herriges’ article points out, “A more prosperous future for Starke will come from recognizing that its people are its greatest asset… Craft a strategy to incrementally identify those locals’ needs and build a place that works for them.”
While concerns about the bypass’s effectiveness persist, it’s important to remember such significant changes take time. As Blair continues to monitor and adjust to new traffic patterns, the true measure of the bypass’s success will be how well the town leverages the opportunity to enhance life for residents.
And, that will take more than the last two weeks.
