The planned closure of a "notorious rat run" in Isleworth would cause "gridlock" on surrounding roads, it has been warned.
More than 400 people have signed a petition opposing the closure of Church Street, which was announced by Hounslow Council last month.
The council claims local residents had been asking for something to be done for years about drivers using it as a cut-through to avoid congestion in nearby Twickenham Road, which is home to West Middlesex Hospital and a number of schools.
It said the move to stop the road being used as what it called a "notorious rat run" was backed by residents in a public consultation.
However, critics say the closure could lead to "gridlock" on surrounding roads, and believe those in the wider area should have been consulted.
They have pointed out that a traffic survey commissioned by the council estimated the closure would add a combined 125 hours a day to journeys in the area.
That report forecasts a 142% increase in the morning peak, from 52 to 126 hours, and a 66% spike each evening, from 78 to 129 hours.
An online petition opposing the closure had already been signed more than 400 times on Monday (October 5) afternoon, just four days after it was created the previous Thursday.
Allison Stevens, who started the petition, said only a few roads, including her own, Silverhall Street, had been consulted.
She called on the council to look at the wider situation and give all those who would be affected the chance to have their say.
"The proposal to close Church Street will push up to 2,015 more vehicles onto Twickenham Road and South Street during rush hour times, gridlocking the road and reducing pedestrian and cyclist visibility. It will also increase pollution in the area," she said.
"Congestion and rat running are common to many of the roads in the area. People are asking why they were not consulted. Church Street is only one of many streets facing issues and its closure in isolation cannot resolve the problem experienced by the whole area.
"The council should therefore halt the closure and develop a sustainable traffic management proposal in consultation with the local community."
The council has said Church Street will be closed for an 18-month trial period at the point just north of the bridge over the Duke of Northumberland's River.
The date of the closure has yet to be confirmed but it is due to happen before Christmas, possibly on December 7.
The council has said it will monitor traffic flow in Twickenham Road and surrounding streets during the trial closure to assess the impact.
Hounslow Council leader Steve Curran said: "The lives of residents have been blighted for years by people using Church Street as a rat-run. It simply isn't wide enough for the number of vehicles that drive down it and the number of pedestrians using the narrow footpaths.
"The width restrictions do not seem to have worked to reduce the problem, so we have to test other measures.
"When we consulted widely with the people that this rat run impacts most upon - the people living in Church Street and surrounding roads - the consensus was to trial the closure of the road.
"We accept that the closure will have an impact on surrounding roads, but I stress to everyone; this is a trial for 18 months and we will also look to see if there are any opportunities to improve traffic flow - especially along Twickenham Road."
A public meeting about the situation has been organised at Isleworth Public Hall, in South Street, on Wednesday October 21, at 7.30pm.
You can view the petition opposing the closure of Church Street at https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/don-t-close-church-street-1.
