| A4232 road | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length: | 12.2 mi (19.6 km) |
| Existed: | 1978[1] – present |
| History: | Constructed 1978–1995 |
| Major junctions | |
| West end: | M4 motorway (J33) |
| A48 road A4050 road A4055 road A4234 road A4161 road A48 road |
|
| East end: | M4 motorway (J30) |
| Location | |
| Primary destinations: |
Cardiff |
| Road network | |
The A4232, which is also known either as the Peripheral Distributor Road (PDR) (Welsh: Ffordd Ddosbarthu Ymylol) or the Cardiff Link Road (Welsh: Ffordd Gyswllt Caerdydd),[2][3][4] is a distributor road in Cardiff, the capital of Wales.
The first section of the PDR to be completed was the Southern Way Link Road in 1978 and the last section was the Butetown Link Road in 1995. The final section, the Eastern Bay Link Road, is yet to be built, with no date when construction may start. When fully completed, the road will form part of the Cardiff ring-road system.[5] The PDR runs west, south and east of Cardiff, with the M4 between junction 30 and junction 33 completing the northern section. The PDR is dual carriageway for its entire length except for the East Moors Viaduct, which is a single carriageway.
The PDR has been constructed in separate link roads of between 1.61 km (1.00 mi) and 5.47 km (3.40 mi) around Cardiff and to date 22 kilometres (14 mi) including spurs have been opened to traffic, with plans for a further 5.53 km (3.44 mi).[6] It has 4 large viaducts (Ely Viaduct, Grangetown Viaduct, Taff Viaduct and the East Moors Viaduct), 1 tunnel (Queen's Gate Tunnel) and 2 spur roads (Cogan Spur and Central Link Road). The road also has many smaller bridges over or under most of the interchanges on the road. The entire length of the road has clearway restrictions on it.
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The road was conceived in the early 1970s and planning began in the late 1970s, by South Glamorgan County Council. The road at that stage was planned to be completed by 1995 and would relieve Ely, Grangetown, Butetown and East Moors of through traffic and as a fast link to the national motorway network via the M4 and A48(M).[7] The first section of the PDR to be completed was the Southern Way Link Road between Newport Road (A4161 road) and the Eastern Avenue (A48 road) in 1978 and the last section of the PDR, the Butetown Link Road, was opened to the public in 1995.[1][2]
The former chairman of the South Glamorgan County Council environment committee, Councillor Paddy Kitson, called the road a "necklace of opportunity" due to its shape and also the opportunities for regeneration.[1] By 1 April 1996 the responsibility for the road was transferred from South Glamorgan County Council to the unitary authority of Cardiff Council. Much of the funding for the road had been grant aided from the European Community and the UK Government on the basis that it would improve the economic viability of the area and bring in new jobs and industry.[1] However, since the completion of the Butetown Link Road, funding for further developments have been at a stand still,[2] and to date 22 kilometres (14 mi) including spurs are open to traffic with plans for a further 5.53 km (3.44 mi).[6] The "missing link", the Eastern Bay Link Road, is still to be built.[2]
The PDR has 3 separate sections; the Capel Llanilltern Interchange (M4 J33) to Queen's Gate roundabout, the Rover Way – Lamby Way roundabout to the Llanedeyrn Interchange (A48) and the Pontprennau Interchange (A48) to the Pentwyn Interchange (M4 J30).
Capel Llanilltern Interchange to Queen's Gate roundabout (Western Link Road)
This section from the Capel Llanilltern Interchange on the M4 (junction 33) to the Queen's Gate roundabout is sometimes referred to as the Western Link Road (Welsh: Ffordd Gyswllt Gorllewin),[8] is 15.77 kilometers (9.80 mi) in length and includes the Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross Link Road, Ely Link Road, Grangetown Link Road and Butetown Link Road. For the majority of this section it is the boundary between the City of Cardiff to the east and the Vale of Glamorgan to the west.
| A4232 (T) | ||
| Clockwise exits | Junction / Interchange | Anti-Clockwise exits |
|---|---|---|
| Swansea, Bristol, London M4 Exit only |
M4 J33 Capel Llanilltern Interchange Cardiff West services |
Start of A4232 (T) |
| No access or exit | St. Fagans | Museum of Welsh Life |
| Start of A4232 (T) | Culverhouse Cross | A48 West (Cardiff West) A48 East (Vale of Glamorgan) A4050 for Cardiff Airport |
| A4232 | ||
| Clockwise exits | Junction / Interchange | Anti-Clockwise exits |
| A48 West (Cardiff West) A48 East (Vale of Glamorgan) A4050 for Cardiff Airport |
Culverhouse Cross | Start of A4232 |
| B4267, City Centre | Leckwith | B4267, City Centre |
| A4055, Barry, Penarth, Grangetown | Ferry Road | A4055, Barry, Penarth, Grangetown |
| No Exit | Stuart Street | Techniquest Museum Exit Only |
| Start of A4232 | Queen's Gate roundabout | A4234, City Centre, Docks End of A4232 |
| Motorway • Primary road • Secondary road Concurrency terminus • Closed/Former • Incomplete access • Unopened |
||
Rover Way – Lamby Way roundabout to the Llanedeyrn Interchange (Southern Way)
This section, partly opened in 1978,[1] from the Rover Way – Lamby Way roundabout to the Llanedeyrn Interchange on the A48 is oldest section of the PDR. It includes only the Southern Way Link Road, known locally as Southern Way, and is 2.25 km (1.40 mi) in length.
| A4232 | ||
| Clockwise exits | Junction / Interchange | Anti-Clockwise exits |
|---|---|---|
| Lamby Way End of A4232 |
Rover Way / Lamby Way | Start of A4232 |
| A4161, City centre Exit only |
Southern Way | Access only |
| Start of A4232 | Llanedeyrn | A48, Newport, City Centre End of A4232 |
| A48 | ||
| Motorway • Primary road • Secondary road Concurrency terminus • Closed/Former • Incomplete access • Unopened |
||
Pontprennau Interchange to the Pentwyn Interchange (Pentwyn Link)
This section the Pentwyn Link Road, from the Pontprennau Interchange on the A48 to the Pentwyn Interchange on the M4 (junction 30) is one of the newer sections of the PDR, having been opened in 1984, it is 1.61 km (1.00 mi) in length. The road between the Llanedeyrn Interchange to the Pontprennau Interchange is the A48 (Eastern Avenue), it too is a dual carriageway and is a concurrent road with the PDR, there are no plans to renumber this section of the A48.
| A4232 | ||
| Clockwise exits | Junction / Interchange | Anti-Clockwise exits |
|---|---|---|
| A48 | ||
| A48 | A48 Pontprennau | Start of A4232 |
| Pontprennau, Cardiff Gate Retail Park, Llanedeyrn Village |
Heol Pontprennau | Pontprennau, Cardiff Gate Retail Park, Llanedeyrn Village |
| Start of A4232 | M4 J30 Pentwyn Interchange Cardiff Gate services |
Swansea, Bristol, London M4 End of A4232 |
| Motorway • Primary road • Secondary road Concurrency terminus • Closed/Former • Incomplete access • Unopened |
||
A map of all the link roads and spur roads can be seen by clicking Map of all coordinates opposite
Each section of the road was completed in separate link roads.
The GB£14.5 million Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross Link Road (Welsh: Ffordd Gyswllt Capel Llanilltern – Croes Cwrlwys), between the Capel Llanilltern Interchange () and the Culverhouse Cross Interchange () was opened in 1985.[6] It was designed to provide a by-pass for traffic from the M4 to the Vale of Glamorgan.[6] It is 5.47 km (3.40 mi) in length and includes the Ely Viaduct close to Michaelston-super-Ely. The only part of the PDR which is actually a trunk road is the Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross Link Road which is maintained by the South Wales Trunk Road Agency (SWTRA) on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).[9][10] The remainder of the PDR is a primary route, which is maintained by Cardiff Council. In 2006 variable message signs were installed on the Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross Link Road by Techspan Systems to display messages giving motorists warning of road and weather conditions, accidents, congestion and major events held in the area.[11][12]
Ely Viaduct
The Ely Viaduct (Welsh: Traphont Trelái) crosses over the River Ely and also the main South Wales railway line.
The viaduct is a 538 ft (164 m) twin-box girder and has central span of 230 ft (70 m) and 150 ft (46 m) side spans, constructed by the balanced cantilever method. It was constructed in segments each weighing between 54 tons for plain segments to 93 tons for the main segments.[13]
The Ely Link Road (Welsh: Ffordd Gyswllt Trelái) between the Culverhouse Cross Interchange () and the Leckwith Interchange (), sometimes referred to as the Leckwith Road Interchange. It is 4.83 km (3.00 mi) in length and was opened in 1982 and built by Davies Middleton & Davies Ltd (DMD).[14] It was designed to relieve Ely of through traffic and partly cuts into Leckwith Hill.[6]
The 2.89 km (1.80 mi) Grangetown Link Road (Welsh: Ffordd Gyswllt Trelluest) between the Leckwith Interchange () and the Ferry Road Interchange () was opened on 3 May, 1988.[15] It includes the Grangetown Viaduct.
Grangetown Viaduct
The Grangetown Viaduct (Welsh: Traphont Trelluest) is approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) in length and is said to be the longest glued segmental bridge in the United Kingdom.[16] It has 13 spans of 71 meters (233 ft) with 2 end spans of 38 m (125 ft) and 46 m (151 ft).[17]
The viaduct was designed by South Glamorgan County Council. Robert Benaim and Associates, now called Benaim UK Ltd designed the initial launching system for the glued segmental structure.
The 2.57 km (1.60 mi) Butetown Link Road (Welsh: Ffordd Gyswllt Butetown) between the Ferry Road Interchange () and the Queen's Gate Roundabout () was opened on 27 March, 1995 by Neil Kinnock at the time the European Commissioner for Transport.[15] Construction of the link road commenced on the 15 October, 1993 and it was the last link road to be built. It includes the Taff Viaduct, also known as the Butetown Link Road Bridge, and the Queen's Gate Tunnel, which is also known simply as the Butetown Tunnel.
In 1987 South Glamorgan County Council had intended to build a viaduct cross the River Taff and then go onto an elevated section through Butetown "on stilts".[7] But the newly formed Cardiff Bay Development Corporation along with local residents objected to the scheme that they said would cut through Butetown and split the community, creating an unnecessary physical barrier between the two areas to the north and south of the link road. By 1988 South Glamorgan County Council had agreed to change the design of the link road, despite having already spent 6 years of design work on the link road meant that a tunnel had to be built instead.[18] The cost of the Butetown Link Road was estimated to cost £35 million, but this had risen to £45M in 1988, before the design change.[19]
The contract to build the Butetown Link Road was eventually won by a local company Davies Middleton & Davies Ltd in a joint venture with an Italian contractor, Cogefar-Impresit UK Ltd. The bid of £60 million undercut all other bids by £10 million,[20] Davies Middleton & Davies Ltd have subsequently gone into administrative receivership.
Queen's Gate Tunnel
The Queen's Gate Tunnel (Welsh: Twnnel Porth y Frenhines), also known as the Butetown Tunnel, is underneath southern Butetown and follows a line underneath the Wales Millennium Centre. The 715 m (2,346 ft)[21] twin tunnel was constructed using the cut and cover method of construction, which involves digging a trench for the tunnel and then roofing it over. The tunnel was constructed using reinforced concrete and a central wall separates the two sets of traffic.[18]
South Glamorgan County Council originally awarded the contract for the management, installation, testing and commissioning of all electrical and mechanical services for the tunnel, and the water pumping stations to EI·WHS Ltd. They still maintain the tunnel on behalf of Cardiff Council.[21]
Taff Viaduct
Construction of the 600 m (2,000 ft) Taff Viaduct (Welsh: Traphont Tâf) includes a dual-carriageway roadway plus a foot and cycle path. South Glamorgan County Council was the local authority in charge of the project at the time and construction of the viaduct began in March, 1991. The Taff Viaduct crosses the River Taff at Cardiff Bay.
The viaduct was constructed using precast concrete segments, which is widely used in the construction industry for medium to long span viaducts. Segments were made in a casting yard near the site and then transported for final assembly of the viaduct.[22]
South Glamorgan County Council also commissioned a sculpture by Kevin Atherton for the foot and cycle path on a specially constructed viewing platform. The work was to mark the completion of the Taff Viaduct so that the sculpture should be visible for the benefit of pedestrians, cyclist and motorists alike.[23]
It is envisaged that the 5.25 km (3.26 mi) Eastern Bay Link Road (Welsh: Ffordd Gyswllt Ddwyreiniol y Bae) will run from the Queen's Gate Roundabout to the Rover Way – Lamby Way Roundabout on the Southern Way Link Road, although at present only the first phase between Queen's Gate Roundabout () and Ocean Way Interchange () is officially at the planning stage,[24] although it seems to have now been mothballed.[25]
The link road had previously been known as the East Moors Link Road – Phase 1 and 3, but it also included the East Moors Viaduct, which was originally known as the East Moors Link Road – Phase 2.[1] Later it became known as the Cardiff Bay Link Road, then renamed the Eastern Bay Link Road.[7]
The proposed Eastern Bay Link Road, along with other schemes have been subject to many planning proposals since the last link road (the Butetown Link Road) was finished in 1995, namely a local transport plan (Local Transport Plan 2000–2016) in August 2000, a green paper (A Change of Gear) in December 2002 and a white paper (Keeping Cardiff Moving) in May 2003.[6][26] The cost of the link road was estimated to cost GB£162 million in 2001 and this increased to GB£180 million by August 2002. It could be paid for by congestion charging,[27] although a public-private partnership is also possible.[26] The original route of the link road had been challenged by both Friends of the Earth Cymru,[28] and also the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), who had both lodged formal objections against the link road.[29] However, the current proposal from Cardiff Council of 31 October 2006 is to complete the first phase of the road, approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) in length, from the Butetown Link Road to Ocean Way Interchange. The new route would be a different route from the earlier proposal and would avoid any encroachment into the nature conservation area, which Friends of the Earth and the RSPB had objected to. Therefore the new route of the link road should ensure that there are no objections.[30][31]
The "missing link" in the PDR (the Eastern Bay Link Road),[2] between the Southern Way Link Road and the Butetown Link Road, poses a threat to the continued development of Cardiff Bay, if the link road is not completed.[32] The main road link from the east into Cardiff Bay remains the M4 motorway, leading onto the A48, a short stretch of along the Southern Way Link Road (PDR) and then onto the single carriageway unclassified roads Rover Way, Ocean Way and East Tyndall Street. It then goes onto the A4234 (Central Link Road) through to Cardiff Bay. Locally Rover Way is known as "scrap alley", because it passes Celsa Steel's Castle Works and Sims Metal Management's scrap yard. An abandoned level crossing can be seen as motorists pass between the scrap yard and the Castle Works.[32]
The Southern Way Link Road (Welsh: Ffordd Gyswllt Ffordd Deheuol),[33] generally known simply as Southern Way, was built in two parts; the first section of Southern Way to be completed was between Newport Road (A4161 road) and the Eastern Avenue (A48 road) in 1978.[1] The final section of the link road was built between Newport Road and the Rover Way – Lamby Way roundabout and was opened in 1984 at a cost of £9 million and includes the East Moors Viaduct, which is also known as the Southern Way Flyover.[1] In 1987 it was envisaged that the present single-carriage was would be "twinned" as a dual-carriageway, the same as the rest of the PDR.[7] The 2.25 km (1.40 mi) link road now runs from the Rover Way – Lamby Way Roundabout () to the Llanedeyrn Interchange () on the A48.
East Moors Viaduct
The 900 m (3,000 ft) East Moors Viaduct (Welsh: Traphont Rhostiroedd Ddwyrain),[34] which is also known as the Southern Way Flyover, was also designed by Robert Benaim and Associates who won the ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) Project Award and also a Concrete Society Commendation, both in 1985 for work on the viaduct.[35][36] The viaduct was constructed by concrete box girder deck of segmental construction.[35] The East Moors Viaduct was originally known as the East Moors Link Road – Phase 2,[1] but now forms part of the Southern Way Link Road.
The Pentwyn Link Road (Welsh: Ffordd Gyswllt Pentwyn), which is also known as the North Pentwyn Link Road, runs from the Pontprennau Interchange () on the A48 and the Pentwyn Interchange () on the M4 (junction 30). It is 1.61 km (1.00 mi) in length and was opened by John Redwood MP, the Secretary of State for Wales on 20 June, 1994.[15] It provides a link between the Eastern Avenue (A48) and the M4 so that westbound traffic from the east of the city can get onto the M4 without having to go through the city, via the A48 and A470. In addition it also provides access to the community of Pontprennau to the national road network. This link was financed by private developers as part of a large scale housing development at Pontprennau.[37]
The Cogan Spur, which is also known as the Cogan Link (Welsh: Gyswllt Cogan),[38] from the Ferry Road Interchange () to Barons Court Junction () on the A4160 was opened in 1988.[14] It is only 0.8 km (0.50 mi), but it is an important link to provide access to the PDR from Penarth and the southern part of the Vale of Glamorgan. It also bypasses Penarth Road (A4160) for traffic going in and out of Cardiff city centre.
The most recent development, which began at the end of 2006 and into 2007 was the widening of the road between the Cogan Viaduct and the Ferry Road Interchange to a 3-lane dual-carriageway. A new junction was also built for the Cardiff International Sports Village directly from Cogan Spur; also the Barons Court roundabout was replaced by a signal controlled crossroad. The main contractor for this project was Laing O'Rourke Civil Engineering.[38][39]
Cogan Viaduct
The Cogan Viaduct (Welsh: Traphont Cogan) is the most important element of the Cogan Spur as it crosses the River Ely with a central span of 95 metres (312 ft). In total it has 6 spans; 40 m (130 ft), 60 m (200 ft), 60 m, 60m, 95 m and 60 m.[17] It is made from a multi-span glued segmental structure of rectangular box sections. In all over 300 sections were used to construct the viaduct, each weighing from 43 to 117 tonnes.[22][40] The Cogan Viaduct was again designed by South Glamorgan County Council, who won a Concrete Society Commendation in 1989 for the design.
The £8.5 million Central Link (Welsh: Ffordd Gyswllt Canolog) between the Queen's Gate Roundabout () and the junction on Adam Street () on the A4160 was opened on 16 February 1989.[1][15] When it was first opened it only linked Cardiff city centre with Cardiff Bay. It was not until the Butetown Link was opened on 27 March 1995 that this road started to be used as a link to the motorway network, Penarth and the Vale of Glamorgan. It will not be until the Eastern Bay Link is built, when traffic from the city centre will use it to travel east, that it will be fully used. The length of the A4234 is just 1.45 km (0.90 mi) and is entirely a two lane dual carriageway with clearway restrictions.
The Ely Spur was planned to run from a new interchange on the Ely Link Road to Ely Bridge on the A48. It was only 1.2 km (0.75 mi) in length, but it would have reduced through traffic in the residential area of Ely, namely on Cowbridge Road West traveling to and from the A48. But it has now been announced that this proposal has now been officially abandoned.[30]
The Cardiff Airport Link Road (Welsh: Maes Awyr Caerdydd Ffordd Gyswllt) was a proposed spur road off of the A4232 through to Cardiff Airport, when plans for the road were scrapped by the WAG in June 2009.[41] The current single carriageway A4050 road, from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport is also the main road from Barry to Cardiff and is the main commuter route.
One of the 4 proposed schemes involved a new major highway route linking the Ely Link Road (PDR), south of the Culverhouse Cross Interchange, through to the A4226 north of Barry. The estimated cost of this scheme would have been £96m, including the widening of the A4232.[42]
The PDR has two service stations for motorists, one at Cardiff West on the Capel Llanilltern Interchange and the other at Cardiff Gate on the Pentwyn Interchange. The services at Cardiff West includes Esso petrol, a Travelodge, Burger King, Costa Coffee and W H Smith,[43] while the services at Cardiff Gate includes petrol, Burger King, W H Smith and also Coffee Primo.[44]
Traffic Wales is the WAG's traffic information service, it is a partnership between the WAG and consultants Atkins. The Traffic Wales website has five live traffic webcams on the Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross Link Road (Trunk Road) and the images are updated every 5 minutes. Traffic Wales also operates a Traffic Information Hotline, motorists can use this telephone service by dialling an 0845 number, which gives up to date traffic information and travel advice.
Since the western link roads were built, a number of major developments have been built, such as the Cardiff Bay Retail Park, IKEA, Celtic Gateway, Cardiff International Sports Village that includes the Cardiff International Pool, Cardiff International White Water and Cardiff Arena, which have all generated additional traffic at the Ferry Road Interchange. In addition, the Leckwith development, which includes Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff International Sports Stadium and the Capital Retail Park with a new Asda supermarket, have also significantly increased traffic on the Leckwith Interchange.[8] At the Culverhouse Cross Interchange, older developments such as the Brooklands Retail Park, Wenvoe Retail Park and Valegate Retail Park, including Tesco and Marks & Spencer have also significantly increased congestion along with commuter traffic from the Vale of Glamorgan. From 1989 to 1997 there had been an increase in traffic of 78% and a further increase of 35% by 2016 is predicted by the Assembly.[42] The Vale of Glamorgan Council also expressed reservations about the new developments of the Cardiff International Sports Village and the Cardiff City Stadium, which includes the Capital Retail Park. On 18 October, 2006, the council requested that the WAG assess the existing traffic conditions and future growth in traffic on the network.[45]
The Queen's Gate Tunnel was featured in the first ever episode of Torchwood, called "Everything Changes" and was first broadcast by BBC Three on 22 October 2006.[46][46] The Grangetown Link was featured in the 2006 Christmas episode of Doctor Who called "The Runaway Bride".[47][48] It was first broadcast by BBC One on 25 December 2006.[47]
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