The Yanceyville bypass

Driving to New York, taking the Western Passage through Virginia, with our newest driver at the helm for the first leg. We just went past Yanceyville, taking the little 86/158 bypass around town. Which leads begs question: why was that road ever built? All the town's businesses, such as they are, are out there. A quarter mile away, the town proper, with its classic courthouse and parking in the square, more or less moulders. Did Yanceyville really need to be bypassed? I guess it makes truck routes faster, but was it worth it? Probably not.