Wauwatosa Village streetscape work slotted to begin today

Work on the long-awaited streetscape project is scheduled to begin May 9 in the Village of Wauwatosa, said David Jaeckels, a construction communication liaison with the city.

In the project, construction crews will be installing 8-inch-thick concrete pavers that are designed and manufactured for roadway service throughout the area. Crews will install a number of landscaping features and will create a curbless center village plaza, he said.

The project has three phases and, Jaeckels said, throughout the project, State Street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, but will reopen during evenings and weekends with a one-way, westbound-only lane.

Jaeckels stressed that businesses in the Village of Wauwatosa will remain open during ongoing construction.

"You'll still be able to walk and bike to Tosa businesses," he said. Parking at a business' front door could get complicated, he said.

The Village Business Improvement District has launched a campaign to inform the public that businesses will remain open throughout the process. "Keeping the Village Glowing" is the theme of the district's communication program to let the community know that businesses will remain open during streetscaping construction.

According to the Village BID's website, Harmonee Avenue will remain open during construction and eastbound traffic on the Menomonee River Parkway will be able to make right turns onto that road.

Suggested parking lots include the Harmonee Bridge and Blanchard Street lots, the northwest corner of Harmonee and Wauwatosa avenues, the Lefeber building (access using Underwood Avenue, north of State Street), Hart Park Lane (accessed from 72nd Street), Hart's Mills parking lot and the fire station lot, according to the Village BID's website.

The project is scheduled to reach substantial completion by the end of October, weather permitting.