WORK could start within weeks to re-open Cardigan’s Tesco Junction.

The news that work will start soon has been widely welcomed, although Liberal Democrat election candidate Mark Williams has criticised the timing of the announcement by Plaid Cymru minister and AM for Ceredigion Elin Jones.

The by-pass junction was ‘temporarily’ closed several years ago after a serious of fatal accidents.

Elin Jones, announced yesterday (Monday) that she had received confirmation on March 23 from deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones that construction work to reopen Cardigan’s Tesco Junction will begin over the coming weeks.

“I can confirm that the design of the junction is well underway,” he told her, adding that construction will start in the Spring and the junction will be opened later in the year.

Ms Jones said: “I’m very pleased that we are finally going to see tangible progress towards reopening Cardigan’s Tesco junction in the near future.

“With the forthcoming Bath-house retail development, the new hospital and the proposals to increase floor space at the Tesco supermarket, it’s essential that the local road network is able to cope with the predicted increase in traffic volume, and the reopening of the Tesco junction is a key consideration.”

Mayor of Cardigan, Cllr Mark Cole, said: “This is very welcome news. We have been waiting seven years for the junction to re-open. The businesses in town have been calling out for the re-opening of the junction for some time. The credit for this news must go to all the people of Cardigan who have campaigned hard for years for this.”

Neal Jones, deputy chairman of Cardigan Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is fantastic news. At long last all the work put in by the Chamber, county councillors, the town council and others is paying off. It’s all been worth it. We hope the work can be done in time for the main celebrations for Cardigan’s 900th anniversary in the summer, which will bring many more visitors to the area.”