The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has told the BBC that the A40 closure is going to have a “huge impact” on the economy in west London.
“Obviously we are aware, as an organisation, that the closure is important for safety work, but it is going to be at a big cost to small business owners,” said Sarah King, the regional business and stakeholder manager.
“In terms of costs, businesses in that area are going to be impacted by the fact that they are facing gridlock situations, which are going to impact their trade on a day-by-day basis for what is a long period of time,” King added.
She noted that it was “really important” that the work did not overrun.
It’s something echoed by local business owner Raaj Thakrar, the director of Valimex in Park Royal, which delivers food to schools, hotels and other businesses first thing in the morning.
His plan is to ask staff to start three hours earlier than normal, at 03:00 instead of 06:00.
“I guess we can’t say the works can’t happen, so if they need to happen, we’ll have to work around it,” Thakrar said.
With an operation involving 40 vans around London, the overtime bill is going to be “significant”, he explained.
“It’s stressful, but getting there a few hours earlier is the only option we have,” he said.