Brian Blake, owner of Port Stephens Pet Warehouse at Shearwater, said that potential customers were being turned away due to the changed traffic conditions, including a 'no right hand turn' from Port Stephens Drive into the estate at the Sky Close intersection.

"I have been here 20 years ... I have survived many economic downturns including the great financial crisis and more recently the global pandemic," Mr Blake said.

"But it is these roadworks which have just about ruined me.

"We were not badly impacted by the lockdowns during COVID and we were going along fine until they started digging up the road out the front here about six months ago.

"The biggest issue is the 'no right turn' from Port Stephens Drive to access my business.

"People are not prepared to drive [approximately 500m] up to the Bunnings roundabout and do a U-turn to come back.

"And those customers that do take the extra time to drive back once inside they are faced with traffic lights where they again can be held up for quite some time."

Mr Blake estimates that since the work began he has lost close to 50 per cent of his trade.

"I have to borrow money just to keep my staff on," he said. "Fortunately, I have some loyal customers who still come in because I am not getting anyone else into the shop."

Mr Blake has pointed the finger at Port Stephens Council, even though the works were being funded by the developer at the nearby site.

"I am no engineer but I would have thought the council would have ensured the infrastructure was complete before undertaking the works," he said.

"Port Stephens Drive is narrow and dangerous due to the bends and it should have been upgraded first. Then they should have constructed the roundabout and finally finish the entrance and exit points."

The council's assets section manager John Maretich said that the roadworks were being paid for by the developer of the project.

"In the development consent issued for the commercial development off Sky Close, Taylors Beach, several conditions where included requiring the developer to construct certain roadworks, footpaths and roundabouts at the intersection of Port Stephens Drive and Sky Close," Mr Maretich said.

"During the course of the works there have been and will continue to be changes to the traffic flow and traffic movement as necessary to ensure the safety of construction workers, road users and pedestrians.

"Traffic control measures have been put in place and will change as construction progresses. The traffic movement will be re-established once it is safe to do so."

Mr Maretich said that the traffic lights had been installed to regulate traffic as part of the approved traffic control measures to ensure road user safety.

"The operation of the traffic lights are the responsibility of the principal contractor," he said.

"During construction there may be times when traffic control measures influence traffic flow. The contractor is responsible for monitoring traffic flow.

"The council does work with the contractor to investigate any traffic flow issues. The council is not aware of any safety issues resulting from the traffic control measures in place."

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