MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Street between Kilbourn and Wisconsin Avenue is closed. Only the southbound lane will be open to traffic. The sidewalk will remain open, however, there’s no parking on Milwaukee Street.

The first phase of the project is expected to open next year. The project won’t be in full operation until 2019, according to the Streetcar website.

The project costs $128.1 million. About $69 million is covered by federal funding while the rest of the funding will come from local money. It didn’t increase taxes, the website states.

The Streetcar team wants to help businesses along the construction route. Every week, they’ll be having lunch and inviting the community to join them at a local restaurant. On Wednesday, September 19, they’ll be having lunch at The Wicked Hope in Milwaukee’s Third Ward starting at noon, according to their Facebook page.

Here’s the latest #Milwaukee#Streetcar news and next week’s construction update. #followourmomentumhttps://t.co/n1jdqlRVWBpic.twitter.com/kL1z2lAmtD

— Milwaukee Streetcar (@MilwStreetcar) September 16, 2017

For more information about the Milwaukee Streetcar, please visit their website here.