Construction for Milwaukee's streetcar project to begin in early April

MILWAUKEE -- Construction for Milwaukee's streetcar project is set to begin in early April -- and start on St. Paul Ave.

Officials with the general contractor say steel rails will be delivered to the city in late March for the entire streetcar route. Those rails will be delivered to key parts in the city -- and clear the way for the construction.

"It will be very similar to street construction. If you didn't know it was a streetcar, you'd think it's just some kind of road construction job going on until the rails appear," said Mike Ethier, Kiewit Infrastructure -- which has been hired to construct the system.

Construction of the streetcar route will move throughout the city through 2017 and into 2018.

CLICK HERE to learn much more about the streetcar project

Milwaukee streetcar - preliminary construction plan

The City has is now seeking a partner to operate the system. The Phase 1 route is slated to begin serving area residents, workers and visitors in late 2018 with the Lakefront Line extension launching service in 2019.

Officials say there will be some inconvenience and partial street closures during the process. But they are working with businesses and others to try to minimize the impact.

The streetcar project will be primarily funded through grants, tax district financing and some federal funds. It was approved by the Milwaukee Common Council in February 2015.

Rail delivery and welding

Guideway/track construction

Foundations for overhead contact system (OCS) poles

Community/Stakeholders

CLICK HERE to read FAQs about the streetcar construction project