MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Road work is a headache for drivers and it's hurting businesses on the southwest side of Milwaukee.

There are countless stores, shops and restaurants along National Avenue from 34th to 37th, and if you take a walk along National, you’ll actually find there’s nothing for you to walk on.

Businesses say the construction in the area has cut their revenue by more than half and they’re struggling to keep their doors open.

“For too many, traffic and parking; we don’t have parking,” said Oscar Bega, the owner of La Chinampa Mexican Restaurant.

The sights and sounds around National Avenue have become an all too familiar headache for this neighborhood.

“Yes, a lot. I have only my family. Here,” Xay Chai, the owner of Thai Bar-B-Que.

CBS 58

It's a pain that businesses are also feeling in their pockets.

“Maybe two, three or four customers, and we receive, like, maybe 10 orders per day,” said Bega,

As some lanes on National Avenue near 35th Street remain closed, restaurant Thai Bar-B-Que worries about its future.

“I tried to get some loan; I tried to get some money. Somewhere, somehow to support,” said Chai.

The business used to make $5,000 a day. Now, along with deliveries, it makes around $500 a day.

“DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber, helping out, you know, to deliver,” said Chai.

Down the street, La Chinampa Mexican says it’s had to let go of all its employees.

“I’m the owner. Before, we had employees, but we no have business, I can’t pay for the employees,” said Bega.

Somedays, Bega makes $150 a day. Other days, he makes nothing.

Last Thursday, a group of people with the Wisconsin Bike Fed held a community walk in this neighborhood to support some of these local businesses.

The short-term closure is supposed to wrap up by the end of the year. The closure is part of a larger National Avenue reconstruction project scheduled to finish by 2028.

With colder weather just around the corner, restaurants say they’re not sure how much longer they’ll be able to survive.

“Don’t have money for the rent, for energy, electricity and also for the employees,” said Bega.

CBS 58