GILLETTE - Business is finally returning to normal at Powder River Espresso after three slow months during the reconstruction of Highway 59.

"It was bad," said the coffee shop's owner, Vickie Fitzgerald. "They closed Country Club Road two or three times and that really hurt me. I could have closed the doors for three months and come out even."

For Fitzgerald, August was the worst month since the construction closed Country Club Road off and on and clogged traffic on Boxelder several times a day. Now with most of the construction finished, she's pleased with the new highway and ready to get back to business as usual.

"(Business is) starting to pick back up because people are starting to get back over here," Fitzgerald said. "It's going to be an improvement, but I'm glad it's done."

Completed months ahead of the June 2009 deadline, the reconstruction of the major highway through Gillette was a success, according to Josh Jundt, resident engineer for the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

"There's some minor items we're working on, but it's substantially complete," Jundt said.

The multi-million dollar Highway 59 reconstruction project, which began in January and was in full swing throughout the summer, included a complete makeover from the Donkey Creek Bridge to just north of the Interstate 90 overpass. The project, which began as a means to improve the poor condition of the existing road, also significantly widened the road to accommodate the increasing number of people traveling the busy highway. The expansion includes three traveling lanes in each direction, right-hand turn lanes and a raised median in the center with dual left-turn lanes at major intersections.

"The traveling public was very patient with us and adapted well," Jundt said. "It helped us finish ahead of schedule."

Now with that project complete, Jundt is turning his sights to next year's major project - the reconstruction of Highway 59 from just north of Interstate 90, to the north to Highway 14-16. Already crews are installing a storm drain on 5th Street and making preparations for next summer's project. Work will continue throughout the winter on storm sewer and water lines as the weather allows, and major reconstruction will begin in the spring with Upper Plains Contracting from Aberdeen, S.D.

"Major reconstruction on the roadway won't get started until early in the spring," Jundt said.

The stretch of highway will get new concrete and paving, but unlike the most recent Highway 59 project, where the roadway was broadened, the road will remain the same width. However, commuters will benefit from widened turning lanes at some intersections.

"It will be the same template as we have right now," Jundt said. "We'll widen some of the turning movements on some of the side streets."

Throughout the summer commuters can expect the side roads to be closed two blocks at a time starting at the north end of the project and moving south. The plan is for the construction to be complete at the end of August if everything goes according to schedule.

While Jundt is making preparations for next year's project, the city of Gillette is just getting started on the cosmetic side of the recently completed Highway 59 project. The new construction was designed with raised medians that will be filled with rocks and topsoil, as well as the installation of the irrigation system in the coming months.

The city just finished taking bids for the project and hopes to have crews working within the next month on the raised medians.

"We're hoping to get something started the first of December and then we have to rely on the weather," said Rick Staskiewicz, parks superintendent with the city of Gillette.

Included in the adornment of the medians will be the installation of the rocks and topsoil along with ornamental grasses and perennials. The right-of-ways will be decorated with annuals.

Staskiewicz anticipates the only traffic interruption will be during the installation of the rocks and soil, but the work should take place during lighter traffic times. The landscaping project is projected to cost $450,000 to $500,000 and be completed in the spring.

"We're excited about it," Staskiewicz said. "It will really enhance that part of town."