The widening of Pennsylvania Avenue between Rawson and College began Tuesday, as did a months-long detour (and probably some headaches) for drivers and residents of the neighborhood.

The road is now closed to through traffic. The official detour in Oak Creek is College Avenue to Howell Avenue to Rawson Avenue (or the other way around, depending on what direction you're coming from).

In a letter to property owners, project engineer Bret Swenson said work will begin slowly but intensify shortly after the July 4 holiday.

Swenson also said the Oak Creek and South Milwaukee police departments can issue fines to unauthorized vehicles traveling within the projects limits.

"It is our goal to eliminate vehicles from unnecessarily entering the construction zone," he said.

Construction is expected to finish by early October. The road will then be four lanes, with improved street lighting and a pedestrian sidewalk.

Click here for a previous Oak Creek Patch story on the project.

The Pennsylvania Avenue construction is one of two major road projects in Oak Creek this year. The other is the Drexel Avenue expansion and new interchange construction.