While the city's loop road would provide a new route to cross from D-19 to the east side of Howell, Suida said the city doesn't like calling it a "bypass" of downtown.

As developers Jordan and Mark Dick work on Motorsports Gateway, the city is taking steps to build a "loop road," which would utilize Old Pinckney Road to connect D-19 and Lucy Road.

An $18M road project in the planning phase for decades officially opened July 18. Eddy County had help during construction of the West Loop Road.