Drivers using Oundle Road have faced intermittent disruption since last summer, when power giant EDF Energy began a £3 million project to improve the electricity supply ahead of future population growth.

With new underground cables now laid, the road is to be resurfaced from its junction with Bakers Lane to the Pleasure Fair Meadow car park near Town Bridge, between August 18 and 26.

Neil Foster, owner of Woodston Cycles in Oundle Road, said a few days' inconvenience would be worth going through for the job to be done.

But he said the previous traffic headaches had affected his business.

Mr Foster said: "It will be a relief when they finally finish it, as it hasn't been good. It was very awkward for customers bringing their bikes in for repair as it was hard getting to us, like the rest of the shops along here.

"Hopefully, after we've put up with the latest resurfacing, that will be it, and they won't decide to do something else along here.

"We had fewer people coming in for bits and bobs during the roadworks, but I was always busy. It was more the inconvenience."

The first stage of the project saw new ductwork laid in Bakers Lane and Oundle Road.

It started in August 2007, with Oundle Road initially one-way and traffic from the city centre diverted away from it along London Road.

In November, The ET reported "chaos and anger" in Oundle Road as drivers' tempers frayed when they became caught up in delays.

The second phase began in April this year, as engineers inserted new cables in the ductwork, digging up the road again to access chambers.

City councillor for Fletton Frances Benton said the Bundles of Fun Nursery she owns in Oundle Road had been affected by two power cuts during the project. A generator and emergency lights had to be rigged on both occasions.

She said: "EDF or its contractors were very good and came to help us, but it was difficult for people.

"There was consultation, but only after people had kicked up a stink. If we had been told beforehand why the work needed to be done, there might not have been all the upset."

The resurfacing will take place between 9.30am and 3.30pm, with no work done over the three days of the bank holiday weekend.

No diversions will apply, and traffic will be controlled by manual "stop" and "go" signs.

EDF Energy networks project manager Paul Reed said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank customers for their continued patience and understanding during the course of this difficult, but essential, project."