Bermudiana Road is set for regeneration into a bustling centre with today's official opening of the XL Capital building.

Now the street will be filled with restaurants with al fresco dining and the huge influx of workers is expected to breathe new life into the area.

A new gallery has opened to take advantage of the large concentration of white-collar workers and their ready cash, and businesses are gearing up for more business.

And there are proposals to remove buses from the route to make it less congested and a nicer street to walk down.

Shops and restaurants in the area have faced a challenging year with the reduction in the number of parking spaces and constant problems with dust due to the mammoth construction projects for both the ACE and XL buildings on the site of the old Bermudiana Hotel.

But they have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the new buildings and the removal of the eye-sore of the derelict Bermudiana Hotel -- a favourite with the city's vagrants.

Already many businesses have seen more business through their doors after 270 XL staff moved in last month.

Most businesses have reported more passing trade and are expecting an increase by the end of the summer when both buildings are due to be occupied.

And the extensive landscaping due to take place on the site is expected to make the road more attractive. All three restaurants on the road have built outside terraces which are expected to be used more once landscaping is completed.

Costanzo Di Meglio, manager of Little Venice and L'Oriental, said: "For the past two or three months we have noticed a steady increase in business,'' he said. "There has been an increase in the number of people in Bermudiana road.

The whole road is changing. You are no longer looking at an empty property, but a beautiful new property. Now if you sit outside there will be a wonderful view of a beautiful building and gardens.

"A month down the road there will be more people sitting outside. It has been hard up till now because there has been nothing to look at. If they change the bus route out of Bermudiana Road it will be quieter on the road.'' Lobster Pot built its terrace last year but held off opening it for business until the construction work is almost done. It will open later this month with a light dining menu until 5 p.m.

Manager Eddie Bardgett said: "I believe the new buildings will generate more business. We have already talked to people from XL and they have made some suggestions that we have taken up.

"One of them was the outside terrace. We will keep that open during the afternoon until 5pm for light dining. We have also taken up some suggestions in our new menus.'' Businesses pin hopes on Bermudiana Road boom Mary Rodriguez, manager of the clothes store Crown Colony, said many of the XL staff were customers already, but the new traffic of people would undoubtably help business.

"I think this is a wonderful location for a shop. We think with our special occasion wear and work apparel we will appeal to the executive women.'' Brent Smith, who has just taken over Axcent on Beauty hair and nail salon, said he will be meeting with his staff in the next few weeks to see if there is anything they need to change in the store.

But he hopes that his salon will be used by both women and men (there is a barber on site) from both ACE and XL.

Mr. Smith said: "We are looking at expanding a bit, but we are a bit short of space. One thing we would like to be able to do is offer more braiding and plaiting.'' Both Blue Ribbon Cleaners and Just Shirts have already noticed an increase in the number of customers through their doors.

Donna Jones, manager of Just Shirts said: "We have a lot of people already using our executive pick up service, but now we have more coming in. We have just taken another member of staff on to deal with extra customers.'' The Rosebank Gallery opened its doors at the beginning of the month, and features work by some of Bermuda's best modern artists.

The gallery is on the ground floor of the Rosebank Building, beneath the offices of Griffith and Wanklyn.

Willie Wanklyn, director of Griffith and Wanklyn, said the gallery hoped to attract some of the new residents from over the road as customers.

"It is a wonderful space for a gallery, and we hope the new buildings will bring in more buyers of Bermudian modern art.'' The gallery's official opening is on May 17.

Owner/manager of the International Sports Shop W.C. Minors said he welcomed an end to the dust and disruption caused by the works.

But he was not sure that his business would benefit from the opening of the buildings.

Valente Tucker, sales person at the Children's Bookstore said they were hoping that they would get more custom from the insurance workers.

She said: "I think it will definitely help the area, and we do expect to benefit from it -- I cannot see how any shop could not.''