3rd Street Project In Philly's Old City Section Complete

It was a sight for sore eyes.

Paving crews spent Tuesday laying fresh asphalt to a one-block stretch of south 3rd street that for more than a year has resembled a mine field.

"I think it has really impacted us a great deal," said Susan McKee, owner of Old City Flowers. "I mean, the people need to come in and walk around and be safe on a street and not feel like they're going to fall."

Back in October, 2011, a sewer main dating back to the 1850s broke, triggering repair- and replacement work that tore up the street from Market to Chestnut for 14 months.

What started as a Water department project ultimately included several other utilities, making a mess of a block where businesses were already struggling to survive.

"The woman across the street- she left. The guy down the street- he left," said McKee, describing for FOX 29s Bruce Gordon the business owners who called it quits during the disruption.

"To stay, you have to have some staying power."

Like others who have stuck it out, McKee is optimistic about the future.

"The possibilities and the curb appeal and the street lights that are going to go in, hopefully will pay off. But we have lost a significant part of our business."

Traffic was flowing by late Tuesday afternoon. There will likely be brief interruptions on Wednesday, for striping work at either end of the block.

But for all intents and purposes, this never ending project is finally complete.