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West Waukesha Bypass Study

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.

Next Steps

Waukesha County will be the lead agency for the West Waukesha Bypass study. Waukesha County, following Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration protocol, will lead preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this project. The EIS will be prepared to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. The EIS will evaluate alternatives for providing a north-south arterial highway between I-94 and WIS 59 and will also evaluate doing nothing. An EIS documents why the project is needed, alternatives considered, and the impacts of the different alternatives. For more information about Environmental Impact Statements and the EIS process please see the FHWA website.

Schedule

The study is scheduled to culminate in summer 2011 with a decision by the Federal Highway Administration on whether to build the bypass and, if so, where to build it. If approved, construction is tentatively planned to begin in 2012 or 2013.

Public Involvement

During the study process, the public will have numerous opportunities to provide comments on the project. The date for the fourth CSS Workshop has been set for September 15 (Wednesday) from 4pm to 6pm at West High School. Come talk with the study team, get your questions answered, and review several exhibits that explain the study process and the reasons improvements are being looked at.

Additional public information meetings are tentatively scheduled for summer 2010 and fall 2010 and a public hearing is set for spring 2011. The public is also encouraged to contact Waukesha County project manager Gary Evans with any comments or questions regarding the study. CH2M HILL was selected to assist Waukesha County with completing the EIS. Charlie Webb is the project manager for CH2M HILL and may also be contacted with project-related comments and questions.

Latest News

Waukesha County Announces Additional Public Information Meeting

The Waukesha County Public Works Department will have a supplemental public information meeting for the
West Waukesha Bypass study on August 4, 2010 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Waukesha West High School.
The meeting will be an open house, and interested persons may stop in anytime between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to
review the displays, ask questions, and provide comments.

An earlier meeting was held on July 14, 2010, but the individual newsletters announcing that meeting were not
received in a timely manner. Therefore, a supplemental meeting is being held to ensure maximum opportunity
for public input on the study.

Information from the July 14th meeting will be on display and also available on the project website,
www.waukeshabypass.org. Waukesha County and their consultant team will be present to explain the exhibits
and to answer questions about the study and the initial range of alternatives.

If you have any questions, please contact Charlie Webb at 414-847-0248 or charlie.webb@ch2m.com, or visit
www.waukeshabypass.org.

Please check this website often for the most up-to-date project news and announcements of upcoming project meetings.