The rolling resurfacing works will affect Le Chene, Le Bourg and Rue des Landes until Friday 26 September.
Traffic & Highway Services said that the airport will be accessible from the west, with a diversion running to the north of the airport past Specsavers, and will be split into four phases to try to minimise disruption to businesses.
The main road to the airport has seen its fair share of closures over the last few years, including being closed for four weeks in February 2024, which had a knock-on effect on local businesses and organisations.
Forest Stores co-owner Keith Bienvenu said the store had already been affected by road closures earlier this year.
‘This was much further down towards St Martin’s but it has impacted sales,’ he said.
‘This will be devastating and we are expecting a massive drop off in turnover. If people want to come to the shop specifically, they will make the effort, but if they’re just passing, they won’t. So it does make quite a big difference.’
However the store will be hoping to take advantage of the quiet period to install new fridges.
‘We won’t be closed but as we expect to be quiet, hopefully the fridges will arrive as planned and we will be able to install them during this time.’
He hoped this would be the last roadworks affecting the business for some time.
‘Now they’ve decided to resurface it, that normally means that there won’t be any roadworks for at least five years.’
Popular inn The Deerhound will be another business affected.
Liberation operations manager Rob Kerslake-Smith said the month-long closure would be frustrating.
‘This will be the fourth set of roadworks we’ve had to contend within the last three years,’ he said.
‘We remain hugely grateful to all of our guests who continued to make the effort to visit us despite the disruption.’
He added that the diversions this year seemed a little more complicated.
‘Unfortunately The Deerhound has been missed off the official signage, which is disappointing. That said, we know how loyal our customers are – especially when it comes to our popular pie night, curry night and our famous carvery – and we really hope they’ll continue to support us during this period,’ he said.
‘We’re also hopeful this will be the last major set of roadworks for some time, as it does take its toll on businesses.’
A Traffic & Highway Services spokesman said that during the four weeks around 700m of resurfacing and footpath repairs would be carried out, as well as improvements to accessibility.
‘The works fit into a busy schedule of projects taking place across the island and from a roadworks planning perspective they are considered to be predominantly outside of the peak tourist season,’ he said.
‘Given the location of the project there is careful balance to be struck in terms of impact on a school, businesses and those travelling off-island.
'Once the road has been resurfaced it will be placed under a three-year embargo, meaning further scheduled works are not normally permitted.’
The primary schools start the autumn term on Wednesday next week, with Forest School on the western end of the roadworks.
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