Multiple road and utility projects are causing severe congestion across Cardiff, with one passenger reporting that a journey of around six miles took approximately two hours.
Works are under way on Castle Street, Callaghan Square, Kingsway, Lamby Way and in Llandaff North and Whitchurch. The disruption has been particularly pronounced around Castle Street, with queues extending through Duke Street towards North Road, according to reporting by Wales Online.
Castle Street works
Construction on Castle Street began on 23 February to make a temporary road layout and cycleway permanent. The scheme includes a fully segregated cycleway, upgraded junctions, resurfaced roads, improved footways, enhanced bus infrastructure and new landscaping.
Castle Street remains open to traffic, but temporary signals have been installed at its junction with Westgate Street. One commuter travelling from north Cardiff told Wales Online: “I got the first bus of the day from north Cardiff and usually make it to the city centre by 7.45am but we hit the traffic at the bottom of Cathedral Road and it took about 25 minutes to get from there to Westgate Street. It was chaos.”
The wider disruption comes as a substantial roadworks programme continues on Lamby Way, while gas-main replacement works are affecting routes in Llandaff North and Whitchurch.
Council says scheme remains on schedule
Cardiff Council said the Castle Street project was needed to support cleaner air and safer, more sustainable travel in the city centre.
A council spokesperson said: “The work taking place on Castle Street is necessary to deliver cleaner air, safer and more sustainable travel options, and a more attractive city centre.
“The scheme includes a range of improvements, including a fully segregated cycleway, upgraded junctions, resurfaced roads, improved footways, enhanced bus infrastructure, and new landscaping.”
The council originally expected the Castle Street works to take about 52 weeks. It said the programme had been adjusted slightly after ground conditions were found to require additional work, but that it was working with the contractor to maintain the overall completion schedule.
“Major projects of this scale and complexity are planned with contingencies to ensure progress can be maintained where additional work is identified during construction,” the spokesperson said.
“Following the discovery of ground conditions requiring further work, the programme has been adjusted slightly, however we are working closely with the contractor so that the project remains within the overall completion schedule.”