WATERLOO — A Costco proposed for west Waterloo is so badly stalled by traffic concerns that it may be five years or more before it's constructed.

Plans to open a Costco near Erb Street and Ira Needles Boulevard by the end of the year immediately looked unlikely after city councillors voted on Monday to hold off construction until traffic issues are dealt with.

"Those who think they're going to have a Costco open by December, they better plan on shopping somewhere else for a while," Regional Coun. Jim Wideman said.

He chairs the regional committee that oversees transportation and road projects — a committee that will likely play an important role in addressing traffic issues in west Waterloo.

Waterloo council approved the Costco proposed for 924 and 930 Erb St. W. on Monday, but the decision was conditional. No work can be done on the Costco site until a major traffic analysis is completed, presented at a public open house, accepted by the city and the traffic concerns addressed.

Easing traffic concerns may depend on the region moving faster on previously planned construction projects.

"By the time we do traffic studies, engage the public and then even if items could be pulled forward … then by the time it's built I would think it's a minimum of five years before anything can go forward," Wideman said.

City Coun. Scott Witmer said timing rests on the integrated traffic study.

"I think before you can really talk about how long is it going to take, you have to have that study to kind of guide that," Witmer said. "You don't know what those findings are going to be."

But he said it is unlikely the current council — its term is up this year — will be voting to OK the project.

Getting things on track will require the city and region to co-operate. Regional Coun. Sean Strickland said the region could probably move up some construction projects, but it would require some work on the city's part.

‎"We might be able to do that," he said. "A lot of it's dependent upon what the city's able to do with city roads and city infrastructure."

The region plans to widen Erb Street to four lanes west of Fischer-Hallman Road to the development, but that won't be complete until 2018, city staff say.

The segment of Erb Street fronting the development will be widened to four lanes with two roundabouts in 2014 or later.

pdesmond@therecord.com ; Twitter: @DesmondRecord