GILLETTE - Business is slower than usual for this time of year at Fashion Bug in Gillette's Powder Basin Shopping Center.

It's a problem Fashion Bug Manager Sandy Aberle attributes to the difficulty getting in and out of the shopping center due to the construction on State Highway 59.

'I think it's made it a lot slower than it should be this time of year, just because it's so hard to get in and out,' Aberle said.

Although the construction is a hassle and hinders business, Aberle said overall the construction has moved quickly and she looks forward to the completed project.

'Those guys are working seven days a week, so you know they're working hard - it's just one of those things you have to put up with,' Aberle said. 'In the long run it will be great, because the road will be wonderful.'

The construction, which began in late January, is in full swing as workers expand the road width to include 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. From the Donkey Creek Bridge to just north of the Interstate 90 overpass, Highway 59 is undergoing a complete makeover.

The project, which began as a means of improving the poor condition of the existing road, will also significantly widen the road to accommodate the increasing number of people traveling the busy highway.

'The overall ride quality is going to improve,' said Josh Jundt, resident engineer for the Wyoming Department of Transportation. 'Overall traveling time on 59 should be reduced.'

So far the multimillion-dollar state highway project is progressing well, Jundt said. The projected completion date is Oct. 31, and Jundt said construction is on schedule for the most part.

'The contractor is hoping to have the entire project completed by that day,' Jundt said. 'As far as schedule, of course, we've had some weather setbacks, but we're close to being on schedule and things are progressing really well.'

The concrete construction will continue in an established pattern of paving the highway from the east side first, then moving to the west side before paving the center. Traffic patterns will continue to change every two to three weeks to follow the progress of the construction. Commuters are notified of the coming traffic pattern changes through signals and signs.

'For the most part, the traffic has been good,' Jundt said. 'Patience would be greatly appreciated, and hopefully the end product will be something everyone is proud of.'

Even though the Highway 59 project is months from being completed, WYDOT is already working on plans to refurbish Highway 59 from where the current project leaves off, going north to where it intersects with U.S. Highway 14-16.

While current project is widening Highway 59, the next phase will keep the highway at its current width.

Jundt is working on the groundwork for that project, and WYDOT will start accepting bids in July. If everything goes according to plans, construction would begin in 2009, with some preliminary work taking place this fall.

Reconstruction and widening of State Highway 59 is probably the most noticeable project in Gillette at the moment, but several other large road construction projects are under way. To help alleviate everyday traffic congestion on Highway 59, several roads are being added throughout the booming community.

�We�re putting in more arterial roads to make getting around town easier,� said Jim Evenson, public works director for the city of Gillette. �Right now, if you look at a map of Gillette, we don�t have good connectivity.�

From the Lakeway Road extension to the realignment of Kluver Road, construction is in full swing throughout Gillette. All of the projects are designed to meet the needs of the growing community and help make getting around town easier.

�Spring is here, and projects are under way again,� Evenson said.

Overall, most residents will only experience minor delays at the most, but most people won�t even notice because the majority of the construction is taking place on new roadways.

�The biggest disruption is going to be on 59,� Evenson said. �The rest of these are in no existing roadways, so people really shouldn�t expect much disruption.�

To accommodate the Highway 59 construction, there will be a few changes throughout town, including the addition of a few temporary traffic lights. Some of the intersections that will see the addition of temporary lights in the next few weeks include 4-J and 4th Street, Boxelder Road at the Kmart entrance and Lakeway Road at the Power Basin Shopping Center entrance.

- Kim Phagan-Hansel]]->