Work to improve tow-paths along the Bridgewater Canal in Patricroft, Eccles, will see Barton Road close to traffic from 8 February.
Drivers will have to deal with serious delays, as the route is a key cut-through to the Trafford Centre from Eccles.
The road will close for six weeks from the A57 Liverpool Road junction to Edison Road.
New crash barriers will be installed along with new kerbs, and alterations to street lighting.
Urban Vision, who manage roadworks for Salford City Council, say timing changes will be made to traffic lights to keep drivers moving.
The section highlighted in red will shut to all traffic.
The alternative route is coloured green.
Emergency services and buses travelling towards Barton Bridge and Trafford will divert some some half a mile down the busy A57 Liverpool Road, turning left down Peel Green Road and taking the long way round to the T-junction with the B5230 Barton Lane.
Using Barton Lane itself as an alternative is not an option for double-decker buses as the height of the Bridgewater Canal bridge is too low.
The closure is causing more concerns for drivers who have to deal with hours of delays at peak times.
A series of accidents last Friday night on the M60 and A580 East Lancs, compounded by temporary traffic lights on Green Lane, and the A57 Liverpool Road Barton Stretch down to one lane, saw bumper to bumper traffic on routes around Eccles and Peel Green towards the Junction 11 M60 at Eccles.
Locals posted pictures and recounted their tales of woe on the 15,500-member SalfordOnline.com Facebook group
Lewis Nelson said: “Got off the bus at Cosmo Bingo in Eccles and walked home and still beat the bus home. I live near the big Tesco in Irlam.”
Andrew Tarling wrote: “Nearly 3 hours to get to into irlam from stretford. Makes last night’s 1.5 hours look quick.”
Mary Mannion posted: “For the first time in my life I saw a bus do a 3 point turn on Liverpool Road… Wish I did the same. 1 hour 50 mins to get from Morrisons to Worsley Road.”
Traffic was bumper to bumper on Cromwell Road in Eccles
Traffic jammed up on Peel Green Road – Janine Bibey
Going nowhere on Green Lane
The Green Lane temporary traffic lights are due to come down on Monday 1 February.
First bus has confirmed diversions for its 100 services, which run from Eccles bus station to the Trafford Centre, will take the following route.
100 from Shudehill Interchange Manchester to Intu Trafford Centre, Hollins Green & Warrington.
Normal Route to junction of Liverpool Road & Barton Road then (Ahead) Liverpool Road, (Left) Peel Green Road, (Right) Barton Road and normal route to The Trafford Centre, Hollins Green & Warrington.
100 from Intu Trafford Centre, Hollins Green & Warrington to Shudehill Interchange Manchester
Normal Route to junction of Barton Road and Peel Green Road, then (Left) Peel Green Road, (Right) Liverpool Road and normal route to Shudehill Interchange Manchester.
All three Barton councillors at Salford City Council, Councillor Derek Jolley, Councillor Michele Barnes and Councillor John Mullen, were contacted for comment but so far none has replied.
The second six-week phase of works, starting on 21 March, will see a one-way system in place on Barton Road in the direction of the Trafford Centre, between the junction with Liverpool Road and Peel Green Road.
