Starting Saturday morning, Scona Road will be closed to traffic for about seven months to allow for the road to be widened and rebuilt.
Commuters who use the major link between downtown and the city's south side will have to use alternative routes until November.
Barriers started going up at 5 a.m. Saturday morning, blocking off traffic from Saskatchewan Drive to just south of the Low Level Bridge.
People who live or work in the area are bracing for delays and traffic headaches.
"Probably it's going to mean I add a half hour to an hour walk – everyday," said Emily Woodman, who works at an area coffee shop and bakery.
The $18-million project includes reconstructing the road, building a noise wall and widening the road to add an extra southbound lane.
With more than 40,000 vehicles travelling the route every day, the city determined the street needs widening.
"Unfortunately there is high traffic volumes and noise on arterial roads of this size," Szczepanski said.
But not everyone is satisfied. Janice Williamson, a member of the local community league is disappointed with the plans to rebuild the road and accommodate increasing traffic.
"The city is constructing freeways," complained Janice Williamson. "When they should be developing public transit and they should be trying to maintain these communities here."
Local shops are hopeful they won't see too much of a downturn in business while the project restricts traffic.
"There's so many people in the neighbourhood that are regulars and we are counting on that to stay the same," said Greta Sieben, with the Wild Earth Bakery and Café.
The road was originally slated to close last weekend, but was delayed to allow voters to reach polls on Monday's election.
The city suggests commuters take the Dawson Bridge or Capilano Bridge as alternate routes.
Motorists are also advised to steer clear of 129th Ave just west of 58th St. and east of Fort Road. That road will be closed until 6 a.m. Sunday for emergency railway track repairs.
