See Department of Public Works talk National Avenue reconstruction
The Department of Public Works presents National Avenue reconstruction plans during VIA CDC’s monthly business owner meeting.
Ramiro Plascencia, owner of Plascencia Auto Sales on West National Avenue, is considering closing his doors.
That’s how much business he’s lost due to work on the busy street.
We Energies is moving its underground equipment on National Avenue out of the way of construction planned to begin in 2026 by the state Department of Public Works. Holes created in the streets and sidewalks during the equipment relocation made it difficult for customers to reach Plascencia’s business, he said.
Plascencia has received calls from customers who could not park nearby and gave up, or assumed his business was closed due to the construction.
We Energies first sent letters to business and residentail customers in the area to notify them that their service might be interrupted during the relocation, said Amy Jahns, spokesperson for the company. In October, company employees went door to door in the area to share information and answer questions.
The idea was to minimize any impact and encourage customers to reach out with questions or concerns, Jahns said in an email.
After nearly a month of work – and accompanying lost business – Plascencia said he called We Energies to notify it of the negative impact on his operation. Three days later, the holes were covered. Jahns wouldn’t say whether the company received Plascencia’s call, so it’s not known if it had any role in covering the holes, or if the work was completed anyway.
However, from spring 2026 to 2028, around 2.6 miles of West National Avenue, between South 39th Street and South 1st Street, will be reconstructed to reduce the number of travel lanes and add safety features like curb extensions and raised crosswalks, according to the Department of Public Works.
Plascencia said if the We Energies work was a preview of what’s to come with the larger reconstruction project, he is skeptical about his business’s future.
“I’m thinking of closing the business or selling, because its already affecting me a lot,” Plascencia said in Spanish. “They’re saying the upcoming project will last years. If one month went badly … I won’t be able to survive it.”
The Public Works Department collaborated with utility companies, including We Energies, to make sure their equipment was relocated enough that it would never need to be moved again, said Jesse Jefferson, a project manager with the Department of Public Works.
“We do stress that contractors have a safe area for people to traverse, and also to make sure that disruptions are as minimized as can be, which is easier said than done since a lot of the utilities are not in great areas for different businesses,” Jefferson said.
Relocation efforts are now focusing on the section of West National Avenue between 39th and 27th streets. Jahns said all the relocation work should be done by the end of 2027.
Maria De Los Angeles Hernández, owner of SunRise Nutrition on West National Avenue, said she has also noticed a significant decline in customers and revenue.
“The people aren’t coming because there’s nowhere they can park,” Hernandez said, in Spanish.
Like Plascencia, Hernandez said she is concerned about how the upcoming reconstruction project may impact her business after seeing the effects of the equipment relocation.
That was a concern echoed up and down the avenue.
Where to go for assistance
Neighbors and local business owners who may be concerned about the relocation efforts can reach We Energies anytime at 800-242-9137.
The Department of Public Works is directing residents with concerns about the relocation project to contact joe.dable@we-energies.com or call 414-303-0310.
Questions regarding the department’s reconstruction project can be directed to its National Avenue Project Team at NationalAve@milwaukee.gov
Local nonprofits like VIA Community Development Corporation are also providing support to business owners on West National Avenue during the reconstruction by helping them develop a plan to make their businesses more accessible amid the road closures.
The organization provides support in filing grant applications for renovations through City of Milwaukee Department of City Development’s Commercial Corridor Team and has also created its own Business Continuity Grant to financially support businesses on West National Avenue with funding for day-to-day expenses.
Alyssa Salcedo covers Silver City, Layton Park and Burnham Park for the Journal Sentinel’s Neighborhood Dispatch. Contact: asalcedo@usatodayco.com.
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