According to my unscientific research, 76th and Oklahoma is currently the worst intersection in Milwaukee.
The corner is home to a variety of national and local retailers and, according to city data, household incomes in the neighborhood are over $48,000 per year, making it a commercial district that lies in a zip code that boasts $190 million spent annual on retail. This spending power exceeds several outlying suburbs such as Brookfield or Franklin. Be that as it may, the intersection currently is in shambles and frankly it just sucks driving around the area.
I had to travel there recently to drop off and pick up items at Mirjana's Tailoring, 7509 W. Oklahoma Ave. (more on Mirjana's in a future OMC Recommends). And, no matter the time of day, speeds were slow, traffic snarled and the wait for the left turn onto 76th Street (off of Oklahoma) was crazy. I kid you not, the left turn signal lasted only 4.5 seconds (I timed it).
So, what's my point? Well, mainly to let you know that this intersection should be avoided (if possible) and to alert those of you traveling that way.
Of course it will all be done soon. This fall, according to Ald. Joe Dudzik's Web site, which adds:
"The upside of this project is that once it's finished we will have a very nice, new roadway from Waterford to Oklahoma." Dudzik noted that the project will also bring some streetscaping and traffic control improvements to the busy intersection of 76th and Oklahoma. The stretch of Oklahoma between 74th and 76th will also see improvements as part of the project, he said.
So, good readers, if you are traveling on the stretch of S. 76th from Waterford Avenue to Oklahoma Avenue beware as it's being repaved, overhauled and eventually upgraded.
But for now, though, it sucks! Oh well. Happy summer driving.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
