St Andrews University says it has done everything it can to ensure the community around Guardbridge has been warned of lengthy roadworks which will start on Monday.
The Main Street will be closed to through traffic for eight weeks from Monday as part of the Green Energy Centre project which the university said will breathe new life into the area.
The university is building a £25 million energy centre in the east side of the former paper mill site.
The centre will produce hot water from a biomass boiler using clear, natural fuels which will be pumped underground from Guardbridge to St Andrews where it will heat university buildings.
The university stressed the project will create hundreds of construction jobs, reduce its energy costs, cut carbon emissions by 6,000 tonnes a year and pave the way for more than 250 university staff to relocate to Guardbridge, revitalising the former paper mill and surrounding area.
But before all that motorists face lengthy detours as pipeline work continues.
To enable pipe-laying from the Guardbridge site across the Eden, the village’s Main Street will be closed to traffic until Friday April 8.
The move comes at the end of extensive consultation with residents and businesses in Guardbridge and surrounding areas.
In recent weeks the university has held several public drop-in sessions in the village and St Andrews, has made presentations to the local community councils, conducted an information leaflet drop, carried out media advertising and engaged in extensive social media and online activity.
It has also started a park and pedal scheme, encouraging commuters to get on their bikes.
Staff, students and the public can hire bicycles free of charge and use secure car parking and a sheltered bike store.
A spokesman for the university said: “We regret that many people who travel through Guardbridge will be inconvenienced in the short term.
“We have done everything possible to ensure that the public, bus companies, retailers, emergency services and schools in the area have had full advance notice of the road closure and diversions.”