Pothole problem so bad, road in Wauwatosa is shut down

WAUWATOSA (WITI) -- The problem of potholes on a road in Wauwatosa is so bad, officials have shut it down! There is hope the road will be reopened soon, but no date has been set.

The Menomonee River Parkway in Wauwatosa is shut down between Hoyt Park Drive and Church Street.

Milwaukee County Parks officials say they feel closing the road is in everybody's best interest.

A stroll through Wauwatosa's Hoyt Park is routine for Diane Saeger and her dog.

"It's a beautiful parkway and it's one of the reasons we enjoy our home is because this is our view and we consider it our extended yard," Saeger said.

But lately, that extended yard isn't looking so great.

"It's sad to see it go into such disrepair," Saeger said.

Broken pieces of asphalt are littered across Menomonee River Parkway - the road running through Hoyt Park. Where that asphalt once laid sits dangerous potholes that have led the Milwaukee County Parks Department to shut down the road indefinitely.

"It was kind of a shock. I just saw the barricades and I just wondered if a tree had fallen or if there was a watermain break. It's nice, actually, because the dog and I can walk safely in the street without having to worry about cars," Saeger said.

Milwaukee County Parks Chief of Planning and Development says the decision to shut the road down was due to the condition of the road after this harsh winter.

"We don't want people damaging their car or anybody trying to avoid a pothole getting into an accident or anything," Jim Keegan said.

Keegan says the road is more than 50 years old, and in desperate need of repair. That's why, during a meeting on Tuesday, February 25th, officials will likely come up with a short-term plan to repair the road.

"Our goal is to open that thing up and get that section of road open as soon as possible," Keegan said.

"I never thought they'd let it get this bad before they'd finally do something," Saeger said.

Keegan says money has been allocated by the county to fix the road. He says in 2015, they will be replacing the stretch of roadway -- but in the meantime, they'll be coming up with a short-term fix.