Several local businesspeople spoke to the Times this week about their concerns at the proposal to shut the Hightown Bridge to traffic for up to a year.
Members of Glengormley Chamber of Commerce met on Tuesday to discuss the potential implications of the bridge closure.
"Many of our local businesses rely on people coming in through their doors and rely on passing trade, so it is possible that some of them could be forced to close," said Chamber President Iain Patterson.
"We will be contacting the council to ask if businesses and residents in the area will qualify for rates relief while the work is going on and about the possibility of compensation for local businesses," he revealed.
Chris Edwards, Business Manager at Simply Coffee on Carnmoney Road, warned that if the area's small businesses go to the wall, Glengormley will be left "a ghost town."
"We rely on through traffic for a lot of our trade, and if they stop that through traffic we won't have any trade," he said.
"I understand that the Government needs to improve the road network, but why should small businesses in Glengormley end up paying for it?"
Mr Edwards revealed that during the six-week closure of the bridge in October and November, trade at Simply Coffee had slumped by 40 per cent.
"We've spent three years building up this business and in six weeks they managed to set us back 18 months. If they close the bridge for a year they are going to kill the business off.
"I know it's different departments dealing with roads and rates, but the Government needs to have consideration for small businesses. Businesses in the town shouldn't be paying rates at all and they should be getting compensation on top of that. If the bridge stays closed for a year a lot of the coffee shops and catering establishments will close and all Glengormley will have is banks and estate agents. We'll be left with a ghost town," he commented.
Terry Boyle, who owns CCR Cabs on the Hightown Road, said he was extremely disappointed by the Minister's decision to go ahead with the road closure.
"It's a real kick in the teeth," he said. "Especially when you hear that they're keeping the Arthur Bridge open and what they're doing for the residents there and in Collinbridge. They say that they can't do the same here because of the volume of traffic using the bridge, but surely they could keep it open for access for residents only."
Mr Boyle, who was among the delegation that met with the Minister at Stormont last Thursday, added: "I asked them at the meeting what they are going to do for the businesses and all they said was that they'd put up road signs to let people know the businesses are here, but what use is that going to be?"
Mr Boyle said his business now faces an uncertain future.
"I don't know what's going to happen. We'll just have to wait and see. I just know that there are a lot of very angry people around here and there has been talk of protests, but I don't know if that will happen."
Politicians have also warned of the potential damage to the local economy should the route remain closed for a year.
"This will undoubtedly stretch some local businesses well beyond their financial comfort zone and could even be a death knell for some and that concerns me greatly," said the Mayor, alderman Nigel Hamilton.
"When the bridge was closed for a number of weeks last year some businesses reported sharp falls in income.
"The impact on the local community will be huge and the issue of compensation will now need to be addressed - whether that is rates relief or some other system. Local people will be greatly affected by this and I have no doubt that some businesses will go to the wall," South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns added.