Traders along one of Bendigo's busiest thoroughfares are breathing a collective sigh of relief with the completion of roadworks this week.

Totalling almost $3.8 million, the redevelopment between Pall Mall and Queen Street has seen different parts of Mitchell Street closed to roadworks since the end of September last year.

Business has been anything but usual for a number of traders along Mitchell Street, none more so than Café Au Lait, which was forced to close in January because of the disruptions.

Owner Paul Moran said the former café, which will reopen as a hybrid cafe and bar on Friday under its new name, Finders Keepers, could not keep its doors open during the redevelopment.

"Being a food environment, the roadworks had a significant impact," he said.

He said roadworks took over the footpath in front of the shop and also kicked up dust, which made its way inside.

"All the dust from street would come up to the outdoor dining area upstairs," he said.

"It was obviously unpleasant for people in a dining environment."

With the wages of three front of house staff and three kitchen staff to pay, Mr Moran said he had to make the commercial decision to close the cafe's doors in January. 

Mr Moran said he felt fortunate because he had been able to afford to close.

"We always had a plan to renovate in February or March, so we brought the renovations forward," he said.

Next door to the former café, fresh food grocer Norm Quin of Quin’s Bluebird said he counted his shop among some of the other traders along the street that were lucky to have survived.

"We lost a lot of money during the roadworks," he said.

"We're not talking just a few dollars, it went into thousands."

Chemist Warehouse manager Audrey Best also welcomed the return to normality.

"We noticed the first day of the roadworks disappearing a dramatic change in sales figures," she said. 

"People were scared off by traffic roadblocks."

"It was disruptive, especially the noise and the mess. We’ve still got dust everywhere.

"It’s been great to not have to deal with it today."

She said the aftermath of the works was positive, with the wider footpath making it easier for pedestrians to walk outside.

Other traders, like Flight Centre, found business never slowed down that much, with results about the same as last year. 

But manager Craig Bentley said there were some unexpected problems post works, with the introduction of a bus stop right out the front and the removal of two car parks.

"The street would benefit us a lot more if people could park out the front," he said.

"The big thing for us was in last couple of weeks there were no parking signs on the road, so people were able to park and quickly drop in.

"I liked fact we got to trial it without bus stops, it increased traffic into the shop."