Residents, Business Struggle to Navigate Tosa Construction

CBS 58- Wauwatosa businesses and residents are still learning to navigate around construction shutting down parts of State Street.

The State Street Streetscape Project officially started Monday, closing the road through the village, detouring traffic on Wauwatosa Avenue.

“It’s a necessary evil,” said Chris Jeske, who lives near the construction.

But it’s not just streets that are torn up, sidewalks are also part of the construction, as crews work on infrastructure underground.

“Yesterday we had them [customers] walking on a tiny strip of concrete to get our store because there was a gaping hole in front of the store,” said Leslie Matson, owner of Salamander.

State Street is closed in both directions during the day, but in the evenings and on weekends westbound State Street is open.

“We walk down we don’t’ try to bring our cars,” said Robin Jeske. “And when we leave our street we’re trying to get a new habit of thinking which way should be turn today.”

The project started Monday and will last until November. Matson says it’s a challenge but she’s optimistic.

“Our customers are pretty loyal though so they’ve been showing up, every day,” Matson said.

That loyalty, coupled with warmer weather, Matson says will hopefully bring some foot traffic back toward her store.

“Just trying to be creative, coming up with new plans of how we’re going to promote the store,” Matson said.

The State Street closure is just the first phase of the plan. The entire $20 million dollar project will take a total of three years,