Perhaps it was the near 90-degree heat that scared customers away, or maybe it was the 2,400 tons of asphalt that played a role in keeping shoppers off the street and out of the businesses last week.

Beginning July 11, construction moved right along--in fact, ahead of schedule--as workers paved N. Santa Cruz Avenue from the intersections at Highway 9 and Main Street.

The project, originally designed to be a nine-week road rip-up, including extensive resurfacing and pipe work installation, shifted after merchants expressed their concern that summer business would suffer with that type of long-term construction.

The project was not only shortened from nine weeks to about two, but the two weeks is turning into just over one week. The roadway was opened to traffic on July 16. Just the striping needs to be completed, and that will be done at night on July 19 and 25.

While the project does not exactly attract people downtown, there are informational cat-illustrations posted along the fence to let people know what is going on.

"People are looking over the edge of the fence and probably able to get a better understanding of the job," said John Curtis, director of parks and public works, on July 13.

Although some merchants used this two-week period as vacation time or a remodeling opportunity, others decided to just grin and bear it.

"We sold about half of what we normally sell," Great Bear Coffee employee Rich Oswald said on July 13. "I cannot remember a time when it's been so slow."

Oswald, who has worked there for two years, said he did not hear many complaints from customers, but there were a few questions about the construction.

"The main question was how long they would be doing it for," Oswald said.

Carrie Nations bartender Scott Meyer, however, said business wasn't that slow on July 11 and 12, largely because there are enough regulars to keep the place busy.

Much to the surprise of some residents, however, the road was operational by Saturday, Curtis said.

Local resident Rick Melzig, who wandered into town on July 13 to buy a spatula, said he was impressed with how organized the construction appeared to be.

"It looks like the project is very thought out," he said.

Curtis said that there was a bonus for the construction company if it completed the project quickly, and he also said that the company was prepared for every situation.

Curtis said that many passerbys seemed to be aware of the construction because they read about in the newspapers. Melzig said that's how he learned about it, so he knew what he was getting into when he went shopping.

Although stores remained fairly quiet throughout the week, just beyond the construction across from the post office, children and adults ate dinner, sat in the park and played in the fountain.

The construction was not only organized, it was also entertaining to some residents, Curtis said.

He said many people would stop, watch the construction and ask him questions about what the process. The town also tried to get the community involved in the process by posting information cats along the fence, which had directions and facts about the process. Stores were also given fliers with the cat logo that read, "Meow, We're Open."

While the illustrations were helpful and interesting to some locals, others weren't as impressed.

"I think it's a ridiculous waste of money," Oswald said.

Nonetheless, the construction is over, and now businesses should not have to worry about N. Santa Cruz closure for another 10 years.