[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]A public hearing was held Tuesday evening to discuss proposed utility improvements on the University of Wisconsin's west campus.

The project proposes several changes to the area including improvements to the steam, water and electrical systems in the area, which would necessitate repairs to the sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping and lighting as well, according to a press release.

Connie White, project consultant for HNTB Corporations said UW conducted an Environment Impact Assessment to determine if there would be environmental consequences from the improvements.

According to the EIA, the projected cost of the project is nearly $30 million.

"The UW System prepares an assessment of all construction and improvement projects," White said. "Additional project assessments will not be necessary."

Phillip Michalski, Division of State Facilities Department of Administration project manager, described how project planners worked with area environmentalists to plan the improvements.

"We are working with the Department of Natural Resources and have continued to do so to make sure we are doing everything necessary," Michalski said. "We haven't seen any environmental impacts as much as we have been seeing actual benefits."

Although the EIA determined there would be no major environmental consequences of the improvements, White said the project will have both positive and negative impacts for people on campus.

The negative effects, which mostly consist of construction-related implications, include inconveniences for traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians, as well as planned and unplanned power outages, according to the EIA.

White added that the positive effects include an improved UW transportation system and temporary employment opportunities during the construction.

The utility improvements will benefit various locations around the west campus and will be necessary for other area campus buildings to function properly, according to White. The construction will also improve the overall water quality in the Willow River and the Class of 1918 Marsh.

Michalski said the construction schedule was arranged to avoid doing multiple small projects and causing disruption in the future.

"Since we are doing it at one time, there will just be one disruption period, and when all is said and done there will be improved roadways, also bicycle corridors, sidewalks, new bus stops," Michalski said. "All in all, [people on campus] are going to see improved transportation systems."

Associated Students of Madison chair Dylan Rath said the improvements would affect the future of UW.

"The improvements are many years in the making," Rath said. "And I like how they are taking input — it should continue to happen."

According to the EIA, the project will begin in May 2007 and is expected to be completed by December 2008.