WORK to re-open Cardigan’s Tesco junction is due to start “any time now”, according to the Welsh Assembly Government.

The work to fully re-open the by-pass junction with traffic lights will be completed by the end of March.

Different stories about the likely start date have been put out by various agencies, including Ceredigion County Council, over the last few months – none of them correct, according to the head of transport at the Assembly.

James Price, director of transport, housing and regeneration at the Assembly told the Tivy-Side: “The work is due to start any time now. Pre-contract work such as surveying will begin immediately, but we won’t be creating any major dispruptive work on the road before Christmas. That will all happen after Christmas and the work will be completely, as we have always said, by the end of the financial year, the end of March 2011.”

The junction was closed to right turning traffic seven years ago after a series of serious accidents.

Cardigan mayor, Cllr Mair Morris, said: “It will be very good news to get this work done before Easter. My only concern is that I am cautious about whether traffic lights will turn out to be the right solution there – but we will have to wait and see.”

Cardigan Chamber of Commerce chairman Paul Oakley said: “We don’t want any more messing about over this. As far as the town’s traders are concerned, everyone wants this junction fully open as soon as possible. We now expect the see work begin immediately.”

A Ceredigion County Council spokesman said: “The council is aware of the Welsh Assembly Government's intentions and looks forward to a speedy resolution of this issue.”