Frank Harris has lived in Berry since 1960 and believes the long-running debate over the bypass has created an undercurrent of friction in the town.
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"There are certain people who think 'oh look, he's on the other side', that sort of thing," Mr Harris said.
"There is ill feeling but it hasn't come out and been made public where there's stand-up arguments in the street or anything like that."
He said the debate had worn down a number of residents in the town.
"They've thrown in the bundle. They're just sick of it, it's been going on too long."
Mr Harris isn't one of them. Living in Kangaroo Valley Road, his home is about 300 metres from where the bypass will run. He wants to sell his four-bedroom house so he and his wife can move into a unit but the closeness of the road is making it difficult.
"It's not actually a bypass, it's a pass through the town," he said.
"There will be as many people live on the western side of this road as what will be on the other side.
"There are another 300-odd houses going to be built in Huntingdale Park and that's just 100 yards down the road from me."
Over on the south side of town lives Holly Landgren, who moved in just on a year ago.
Had the southern option gone ahead, her home would have been removed.
Ms Landgren said she has noticed "bitter divisions" between some opponents over the bypass.
"It's certainly split the community," Ms Landgren said.
"We moved to Berry thinking we were going to have a very low profile and lead a very quiet existence. Instead we ended up being involved in community meetings and forums and I've been really surprised at some of the venom that was shown in those meetings."
She said the image that the whole town was united against the northern route was not true.
Ms Landgren disagreed with the claim that the road will split the town in two.
"When the bypass goes through there's an overpass there with a cycleway and pedestrian access, so it makes it much safer."
