Businesses have started to feel 're-connected' after Market Street in Kirkby Lonsdale reopened to vehicles following the devastating fire in December.
More than 100 residential properties and 84 business properties in the town were directly impacted.
Ben Taylor, 45, owner of GR and RD Taylor General Store and Army Surplus on Market Street, died in the blaze that started in the early hours of December 8
Westmorland and Furness Council previously said temporary measures required to secure the area meant Market Street were too narrow to safely accommodate both pedestrians and vehicles.
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As a precaution the road was temporarily closed for five months.
After a number of weeks the road has now re-opened to traffic with a weight restriction in place.
Further site clearance also took place on the former Taylor’s building, including rubble removal to create a site compound space.
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Work was also carried out to improve the pedestrian footway at St Mary’s Court to allow safe passage of pedestrians.
A new, wider pavement with a dropped kerb on one side of Market St will make it safer for all and enable disabled access for wheelchair users, and families with prams.
The road re-opened just after 5pm on Friday.
"From a business perspective this weekend has seen much healthier sales figures already - which has also been helped by the good weather.
"Well done to the council workers who have managed to get it open just before Easter and also the Chamber of Trade.
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"It's the small things that have added up over time such as signage and promotion on social media to let people know that we're here that have really helped.
"We now look forward to inviting anyone thinking of coming here for a summer holiday, who may have been a bit uncertain, and for them to physically see everything that's open.
"We're also hoping that people will return to their normal routine of visiting their local shops, pubs and bars."
"We do feel it was closed for too long and it's divided and separated the town into two - sending drivers miles out, causing problems with deliveries and passing people for many businesses.
"We feel things should have been done differently from the beginning and that if it can re-open now it could have re-opened a long time before.
"We are very happy that is it now open however and we're hoping that people will now return to what they used to and come and visit."
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The opening means residents from Fairbank, Fairgarth Drive and the rugby club side of town no longer need to drive the mile-and-a-half Hophouse Lane diversion to come into town.
Smaller delivery vehicles will also be able to service businesses without having to 'illegally' back down Main Street from Market Square.
Allan Muirhead, chairman of the town’s Community Interest Company, and a former town council chairman, said: "Westmorland and Furness Council and its contractors are to be thanked for enabling these improvements to be completed just sixteen weeks after the destructive fire, which sadly claimed the life of Ben Taylor.’
They added: "We at Sweet Shop are just so happy to see the rest of the town more open and not feeling as cut off. We are all looking forward to hopefully having a great Easter."
