On a typical school day, the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Wauwatosa Avenue (76th Street) can be pretty challenging. Between students from Tosa East, Lincoln, St. Bernard’s and those heading towards Longfellow, drivers have to be alert and proceed slowly and cautiously in the morning and the mid-afternoon.

Now that there’s pipe work construction blocking several streets in the village, this same intersection will likely become a huge headache for those who can’t avoid it. Already, rush hour traffic is clogging that intersection and the one just west of it – Underwood and Milwaukee – with cars detouring around the construction.

Early reports have the work finishing up prior to Tosa Fest which starts September 8th. Given the age of the pipes involved, the few mishaps that have already happened (i.e. at least three instances of pipes being hit during construction) and any unforeseen obstacles that may occur, that date may be a tad optimistic.

Tosa schools open on September 4th this year. Here’s hoping that the construction will move swiftly. Otherwise, we’re all going to have to use a lot of patience and caution when navigating that area. Plan ahead and drive s-l-o-w-l-y.