Work to revamp the area around a controversial roundabout will last nine months.
Brighton and Hove City Council believes its changes to Seven Dials in Brighton will improve safety and benefit all road users.
The local authority has confirmed the £625,000 project will start on March 4 and last until December with works phased to minimise disruption.
Transport bosses said various surrounding roads will need to be shut in rotation for three or four weeks at a time.
But locals in neighbouring streets have raised concerns this will lead to traffic being pushed into residential side streets.
Dave Evans, of Addison Road, Hove, said: “People up here want the Seven Dials renovated.
“But we are unhappy at how they have gone about it.
“I was surprised it’s going to take this long.
“I think they were keeping it a secret as they know it will be chaos. We get the feeling they are going to bushwhack us with traffic closures.
“They still have not given us any details of where the diversions will be and how that will affect all the side streets.
“It’s inconceivable that for a project this big they do not know where the traffic will go.”
Road closures
About 7,000 letters have gone out to residents explaining the details of the programme.
This includes a list of which roads will be shut and when.
The work will see the creation of a longer oval traffic island to replace the mini-roundabout.
Ian Davey, chairman of the council’s transport committee, said: “We apologise for any disruption caused but are confident that that once the works are complete people will appreciate the improvement.
“The schedule has been planned to keep nuisance and disruption to a minimum.
“We’re seriously committed to addressing any concerns people raise during construction.”
Street clutter
Traffic engineers say this will mean vehicles from various roads will merge gradually rather than converging on a single point.
Other measures include removing street clutter and changing pelican crossings to zebra crossings to make it quicker and easier to cross.
Guard railings and an elm tree near the junction will also be removed.
Consultation took place in October and the scheme was approved by the council’s transport committee in January.
Contractors Edburton will have a site office in front of Montpelier Crescent, Brighton, throughout the scheme.
For more information email sevendials@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 292929.
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