Construction on streets and sidewalks in the Village of Wauwatosa is nearing completion.
Efforts began in May to replace aging utility infrastructure underground, as well as old streets and sidewalks in the area.
According to a flier sent out by the city to businesses in the Village, the bulk of the underground utility work should be finished by next week.
On Monday, the contractor began removing road surfaces and sidewalks. That type of work will continue in the coming weeks.
“The contractor is required to maintain access to all of the (business) entrances during this work, although for a portion of the time it will be a compacted gravel surface for the sidewalks,” the city said in the flier.
The current phase of the project encompasses State Street between Wauwatosa Avenue and Church Street, as well as stretches of Harwood Avenue and Underwood avenue in the village.
“This work will be continuous and throughout the entire project area,” the city said.
“It will last about six weeks but there will be sidewalk and road surface added in phases.”
The areas currently under construction remain closed to traffic on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Jim Plaisted, Executive Director of the Village Improvement District, said he expects to see all the roads and sidewalks paved and finished by the end of October.
“Topping off with lights, trees, street benches and things like that should happen in November,” he said.
Plaisted said the construction has, at times, made for a tough summer for businesses. He noted foot traffic is down slightly in the Village.
“Pedestrian traffic has been more destination based rather than just strolling,” Plaisted said.
“By and large, most of the businesses were prepared for this and are doing OK,” he said. “I don’t want to say they’re doing great, but they’re doing OK.”
Following the completion of the current round of construction, phase two of the project will begin in the area of State Street that stretches east from the Village to 68th Street.
