Fears that the bypass around Kimball would close local businesses have lessened- but haven't disappeared.
When the bypass opened in October, travelers had the option to avoid Kimball completely, making many business owners nervous.
Ten months later and most owners are saying the new route hasn't hurt them too much.
Many say it isn't the bypass that has caused the closure of multiple businesses, but the economy and community support.
"It's hard for local businesses to survive if the people in the community doesn't support them," explains bakery owner Bob Hinton. "We need to support each other to keep it going otherwise we're going to have more empty buildings"
Hinton says he has a local customer base, but those businesses that don't may be affected more drastically by the bypass.
Economic Development Director Larissa Binod believes Kimball can make it through any hardships caused by the bypass.
She hopes to turn this portion of the Heartland Expressway into a positive for the community.
"We must adapt and if it's a corridor of trade for all three countries on our continent why not be a part of it, whether it's on the outskirts of our community or right smack dab in the middle of our community, our community is going to be impacted and it's up to our community to capture our opportunities"
The Heartland Expressway is part of the Ports to Plains Trade Corridor that stretches from Canada to Mexico.
