A proposal to build a new Popeyes Louisiana kitchen on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington will face its final hurdle before city council in early January.

The mayor and council are due to hear an appeal to grant conditional use to the city’s zoning at 7 p.m. Jan. 3 at City Hall, 301 11th St.

The approval is needed because traffic to the restaurant, which will be built on Giant Eagle Square, is expected to exceed 1,000 vehicles per day, said city engineer Tony Males.

Although the restaurant itself is a permitted use, New Kensington’s ordinances require it to obtain conditional use approval from the town planning commission and council due to its expected impact on traffic.

The planning commission in September recommended unconditional approval. But the council could impose its own conditions, Males said.

The city’s zoning hearing board also had a role to play because of the restaurant’s drive-thru lane. The board approved a special exception for this, also unconditionally, Males said.

“No one saw anything raising flags or raising concerns,” he said.

Appearing before city council “is the last step in getting all municipal approvals,” Males said.

An engineer on the project with Gateway Engineers could not be reached for comment on Friday.

If approved by council, Males said he would expect construction to begin soon after, as construction plans have already been submitted to the city.

He said construction is expected to take six to nine months.