"DANGEROUS" roadworks are stopping shoppers from reaching businesses in Arnold town centre, according to residents.
The junction that joins Front Street, Coppice Road, Cross Street and Church Street has been the scene of widening for the past four months.
The work is being carried out by developer Bellway, which is building a 340-home housing estate in Stockings Lane.
The changes to the busy junction were set to be completed at the start of November but were delayed when engineers hit an unexpected electrical cable.
Diana Barber, 49, said her mother-in-law, Edna Wheatley, 79, who lives just 200 yards away from the site, was worried she could trip over dangerous items left by the workers.
"There's no excuse for the terrible site management," she said. "My mother-in-law has stopped walking into town because she is too scared of falling over the holes left exposed and the plastic barriers."
Mrs Wheatley's son, Howard, 49, added: "I visit her every fortnight and even I find it difficult to negotiate.
"The traffic it has created is terrible."
Sue Grimwood, 53, of Carlton, shops in Arnold.
She said: "It looks like it could be quite dangerous but the main problem is the traffic.
"The buses are queuing up and it doesn't usually get very busy around here.
"It's obviously affecting a lot of people and I've come here less often than I would."
Local businesses are also feeling the strain.
Muriel Bagworth, who has volunteered at the Salvation Army, in Front Street, for 19 years, said: "We've definitely seen a drop in trade. If people struggle to get here, they aren't going to bother.
"It really is ridiculous."
She said the number of people calling in to make donations had dropped to less than half of what it was.
"A lot of people are saying they don't think the roadworks will make it any better," she added.
A spokesman for Bellway confirmed that the roadworks would be completed by the end of the week.
He said: "Unfortunately, work has been delayed by the discovery of unmapped services and by vandals damaging the site."
He added that he had every faith in the engineers keeping the site safe.
Have you been affected by these roadworks or others in your neighbourhood? Let us know by e-mailing newsdesk@nottinghampost.com