The Waukesha Common Council is being asked to take up a resolution endorsing the West Waukesha Bypass project at its meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

The bypass, which has been in the plans for 50 years, is expected to help improve traffic flow and increase safety along Meadowbrook Road. However, opponents to the project fear additional traffic, the high costs to create a four-lane road and environmental impacts.

Government transportation officials are reviewing four alternatives for the west side of Waukesha. One option is to do nothing with Highway TT, but the other three options have a 34 percent to 42 percent lower crash rate estimates. The three alternatives to create a bypass would cost between $53 million and $55 million, but reduce crashes and travel times.

From the West Waukesha Bypass website:

In February 2010, Waukesha County began a detailed study of the West Waukesha Bypass between Interstate 94 and WIS 59 on the west side of the City of Waukesha. The transportation improvements are being studied to address growing local and regional traffic volumes, and to enhance traffic flow and safety.

The West Waukesha Bypass has been in county and regional transportation plans for decades. In April 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Waukesha County, the City of Waukesha, the Town of Waukesha, and WisDOT, identifying the local, county, and state responsibilities for studying and possibly building the West Waukesha Bypass.

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Input from citizens will be part of the environmental impact study on the project. That study is expected to be culminated next year with a decision by the Federal Highway Administration on whether to build the bypass and, if so, where to build it.