In a turn of events that vexed locals, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation kicked off the reconstruction of W. Forest Home Ave. this week but stumbled on the critical step of communication. Spanning from Janesville Road to S. 45th St., the project was deemed necessary and overdue, yet both residents and businesses were left in the dark about the commencement dates and the imposition of parking restrictions that could hamstring their day-to-day operations. Even public officials were blind-sided; in a statement obtained by the City of Milwaukee website, it was revealed that the schedule and a public meeting held on March 19 slipped under their radar without prior notice.

The issue escalated when Rescued Roasters, a coffee shop at 4435 W. Forest Home Ave., found a "NO PARKING" sign right in front of their business. With parking banned, the shop is now at risk of losing customers. The owners were caught off guard, as they were only informed about the project through the sign. They are open Monday through Thursday from 7am-5pm; 7am-6pm Friday; 9am-3pm Saturday, as reported by the City of Milwaukee.

A local official asked the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to use clear and timely signage, like the Milwaukee Department of Public Works, to help businesses affected by roadwork. The official also suggested placing signs with construction barrels to reduce disruptions. Wisconsin Department of Transportation invited the owners of Rescued Roasters to discuss the impact of a recent project on small businesses. While Wisconsin Department of Transportation apologized for the mistake, there was frustration that local officials weren’t involved in planning the project, as per the City of Milwaukee.