'Jams won't hit tourism' Roadworks show city's 'on the move'.

Byline: Lisa Jones

TRAFFIC problems caused by roadworks in Cardiff city centre won't put off visitors, tourism experts claimed last night.

Work to change the layout of a crossing outside Cardiff Castle, has reduced rush-hour traffic to a crawl since the nine-week programme began on Monday.

As vehicles converge from major roads coming into the city, they are fed into a bottle neck of single-file traffic either side of Duke Street.

The 24-hour a day work comes at the beginning of school holidays and just days after the culmination of the successful hosting of the First Ashes Test in Cardiff.

But tourism chiefs say visitors won't be deterred because they see roadworks and construction as evidence of a city on the move.

Peter Cole, Regional Strategy Director of Capital Regional Tourism, said: "We've got to do road works some time.

"Cardiff is quieter in July and August than at any other time of the year, although not necessarily for visitors.

"If they have to do work I can see why they are carrying it out now. It would've been a lot worse during the Ashes or the Six Nations. We would always love outsiders to come here and it be perfect. We sometimes feel a bit embarrassed and apologise for the city looking like a building site. But they don't have a problem with it. Cities with con-structioare cities on the move."

Dermot Keegan, Cardiff Hoteliers' Association executive committee member, said visitors would still come.

He said: "I'm glad it didn't happen during the Ashes. It certainly wouldn't have done the city's image any good. I can understand people's frustration when they can't get to their graduations or meetings.

"There are always issues with city centre roadworks, particularly as people's reliance on satnav increases.

"It won't stop people coming to Cardiff. It could be better routed round, though. People could be better advised on alternative routes."

A Cardiff council spokesman said: "Cardiff has a more prominent position on the world stage than ever before and Cardiff council is dedicated to making sure it fulfils its global potential.

"From a tourism perspective, Cardiff is busy all year round so there's never a good time for major work like this to take place, however the long-term benefits to the city centre, and in particular to the area outside the Castle, which is Cardiff's premier visitor attraction, will be considerable.

"Over the coming weeks our Tourist Information Centre team will, as usual, be available to help visitors plan their journey into and around Cardiff, encouraging as many as possible to use public transport and find alternative routes."

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Traffic queues along Kingsway and Castle Street yesterday