Closure of the Silverbridge Road between Newry and Crossmaglen has sparked outrage among businesses.
A section of the B30 closed yesterday for drainage and resurfacing.
Diversions are in place between 9am and 5pm and will be for the duration of works - eight weeks.
But those diversions will drive passing trade away from the businesses that rely heavily on it.
Vivo shop owner Josephine Murphy told Q Radio that with Christmas stock coming in this week, she wrote to the Infrastructure Minister.
She has yet to receive a response.
Ms Murphy, who's business barely survived a road closure two years ago, has placed staff on protective redundancy.
She's angry that they were not given enough notification of the closure.
A notice was placed in local newspapers last week.
Kathleen Finnegan runs a nursery and garden centre.
She told Q Radio she's "trying not to think that far ahead or about it at all."
A post office in the convenience store, a security firm, a takeaway and a civil engineer are affected by the road closure.
High Court quashes Parades Commission Drumcree determination
DUP MP Gregory Campbell faces probe by Parliament’s expenses watchdog
Three men arrested as part of probe into model of mosque on bonfire
Boy, 16, arrested after discovery of suspicious devices in Omagh
Woman admits breaching anonymity of Jeffrey Donaldson victim
Comments
Add a comment