Since the first round of works were carried out four years ago, Mr Jenkin said large car parks at the Woolworths and Mann shopping centres had opened and the car park behind the former Coles supermarket in High Street was no longer as crowded after the supermarket shut last year.

“It will be a case of short-term pain for long-term gain,” he said.

“There is a plenty of parking in the vicinity of the works area.

“So if people are prepared to walk a block and support the retailers it will be all good.”

Business Wodonga has arranged a workshop next week for impacted business owners on how to survive the road closure.

Guest speakers include Clare Doolan from Miss Naked Cakes situated in South Street which has just been upgraded.

She opened a pop-up store in Albury during the works and said a positive mindset was important to get through the tough times.

“We knew we were going to be coming up against some disruptions so we thought if customers can’t get to us we will try and get to them some way,” Ms Doolan said.

“We did that for three months and finished up on December 30.

“It kept us afloat and we even put on an extra staff member and promoted the business as well.

“While it wasn’t nice having the access blocked to our shop in Wodonga it has turned out a blessing and given us the push we needed.

“Rather than whinge and carry on about why this is happening and try stop it, you’ve really got to try and focus on the positives and the good things that are happening.”

Business coach Phil Badura will also appear and work through a 90-day action plan with traders.

Wodonga Council infrastructure and planning director Leon Schultz also confirmed temporary carparks were still open in the former car yard on the corner of High and Bond streets and next door to the Carrier Arms hotel in Church Street.

He also added two options for the timing of the Sesame Lane to water tower works were still being considered.