A4232 road

UK road routebox


caption=
road= A4232
length-mi= 12.2
length-km= 19.63
direction= Semi-circular (West – East)
start= M4 junction 33
destinations= Cardiff
end= M4 junction 30
construction-date=1978
completion-date=1995 (unfinished)
junctions= ukmotorwaysmall|4
ukroadsmall|48
ukroadsmall|4050
ukroadsmall|4055
ukroadsmall|4234
ukroadsmall|4161

The A4232, which is known either as the Peripheral Distributor Road (PDR) ( _cy. Ffordd Ddosbarthu Ymylol) or the Cardiff Link Road ( _cy. Ffordd Gyswllt Caerdydd),cite web |url= http://valeofglamorgan.devplan.org.uk/document.aspx?document=7&display=chapter&id=34 |publisher= Vale of Glamorgan Council |title= Transportation Cardiff Link road |accessdate=2008-03-08] cite web |url= http://ivegonefishing.co.uk/course/valeglamorgan.htm |publisher= David Wells ivegonefishing.co.uk/ |title= Course Fishing Venues in Vale of Glamorgan Wales |accessdate=2008-03-08] is a distributor road in Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

The first section of the PDR to be completed was Southern Way between Newport Road (A4161 road) and the Eastern Avenue (A48 road) in 1978. When fully completed, the road will form part of the Cardiff ring-road system.cite web |url= http://www.pberry.plus.com/ukroads/ring_roads/ |publisher= Paul Berry
title= Ring Roads |accessdate=2008-03-08] 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 (1.0 mi) and 5.47 km (3.4 mi) around Cardiff and to date 22 kilometres (14 miles) including spurs have been opened to traffic, with plans for a further km to mi|5.53|abbr=yes.cite web |url= http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3384 |publisher=Cardiff Council |title=Local Transport Plan 2000 – 2016 |accessdate=2007-08-15] 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.

History

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). The first major link road to be opened was the Ely Link Road in 1982.cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3896 |publisher=Cardiff Council |title=Keeping Cardiff Moving |accessdate=2008-02-06] 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."South Wales Echo", "Opening up southern Cardiff – Value of PDR", Wednesday 22 May, 1985, Page 15] 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. However, since the completion of the Butetown Link Road, funding for further developments have been at a stand still, and to date 22 kilometres (14 miles) including spurs are open to traffic with plans for a further km to mi|5.53|abbr=yes.

Route

The PDR has 3 separate sections;
* Capel Llanilltern Interchange (M4 J33) to Queen's Gate roundabout
* Rover Way – Lamby Way roundabout to the Llanedeyrn Interchange (A48)
* Pontprennau Interchange (A48) to the Pentwyn Interchange (M4 J30)

Capel Llanilltern Interchange (M4 J33) to Queen's Gate roundabout

This section from the M4 at junction 33 to the Queen's Gate roundabout is sometimes referred to as the Western Link Road,cite web |url= http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-columnists/tm_objectid=17332215&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=development-is--putting-a-strain-on-distributor-road-----and-on-commuters-name_page.html|publisher=icWales |title=Development is putting a strain on distributor road...and on commuters |accessdate=2008-02-02] is km to mi|15.77|abbr=no 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.

Junctions

Link roads

"A map of all the link roads and spur roads can be seen by clicking Map of all coordinates opposite"

The each section of the road was completed in separate link roads.

Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross Link Road

The GB£14.5 million Capel Llanillterne – Culverhouse Cross Link Road between the Capel Llanilltern Interchange (coord|51.506481|-3.310425|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Capel Llanilltern Interchange (M4 J33)) and the Culverhouse Cross Interchange (coord|51.466350|-3.271110|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Culverhouse Cross Interchange) was opened in 1985. It was designed to provide a by-pass for traffic from the M4 to the Vale of Glamorgan. It is 5.47 km (3.4 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 and it is maintained by the South Wales Trunk Road Agency (SWTRA) on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).cite web |url= http://wales.gov.uk/660245/inforce/localsi/temptraffic/2001/550559/22-10-01_capel.rtf?lang=en |publisher= National Assembly for Wales |title= The A4232 Trunk Road (Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff) |accessdate=2008-03-11] cite web|url=http://www.swtra.co.uk/en/our_road_projects/our_roads_map.htm |publisher= South Wales Trunk Road Agency |title= The Road Network managed by the Agency |accessdate=2008-03-11] The remainder of the PDR is a primary route, which is maintained by Cardiff Council.

Ely Viaduct

The Ely Viaduct crosses over the River Ely and also the main South Wales railway line.

The viaduct is a ft to m|538|abbr=yes twin-box girder and has central span of ft to m|230|abbr=yes and ft to m|150|abbr=yes 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.cite web |url= ftp://imgs.ebuild.com/woc/C830350.pdf|publisher= The Aberdeen Group |title= Post-Tensioned Segmental Construction |accessdate=2008-04-13|format=PDF]

Ely Link Road

The Ely Link Road (Welsh: "Ffordd Gyswllt Trelái") between the Culverhouse Cross Interchange (coord|51.465840|-3.269895|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Culverhouse Cross Interchange) and the Leckwith Interchange (coord|51.470641|-3.211762|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Leckwith Interchange), sometimes referred to as the Leckwith Road Interchange. It is 4.83 km (3.0 mi) in length and was opened in 1982, therefore it was the first link road to be built.cite web |url= http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/timeline.html|publisher=cardiffians.co.uk |title=Cardiff Timeline |accessdate=2007-08-15] It was designed to relieve Ely of through traffic and partly cuts into Leckwith Hill.

Grangetown Link Road

The 2.89 km (1.8 mi) Grangetown Link Road (Welsh: "Ffordd Gyswllt Grangetown") between the Leckwith Interchange (coord|51.470159|-3.211239|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Leckwith Interchange) and the Ferry Road Interchange (coord|51.453510|-3.185760|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Ferry Road Interchange) was opened on 3 May, 1988.cite web |url= http://pirate.cardiffschools.net/index1.htm|publisher=Cardiff Council |title=Cardiff Timeline |accessdate=2007-08-15] It includes the Grangetown Viaduct.

Grangetown Viaduct

The Grangetown Viaduct is approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) in length and is said to be the longest glued segmental bridge in the United Kingdom.cite web |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=g2bLw_mHzEMC&pg=PA351&lpg=PA351&dq=+%22Cogan+viaduct%22&source=web&ots=g1HZhVUnX3&sig=rLCqG9dgR4y62vw2cQ5a43b4baY#PPA351,M1 |publisher= books.google.com |title= Bridge Management: Inspection, Maintenance, Assessment and Repair Papers by Keith Harding, G.A.R. Parke & M.J. Ryall |accessdate=2008-03-08] It has 13 spans of m to ft|71|abbr=no with 2 end spans of m to ft|38|abbr=yes and m to ft|46|abbr=yes.cite web |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=4SRsND0jU0IC&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&dq=%22grangetown+viaduct%22&source=web&ots=dETySRFBcO&sig=yASM6q6rEvxqYqrnZ7KHdkEHqiw#PPA67,M1 |publisher= books.google.com |title= Structural Assessment: The Role of Large and Full-Scale Testing By K. S. Virdi |accessdate=2008-03-08]

The viaduct was designed by Robert Benaim and Associates, now called Benaim UK Ltd.cite web |url= http://www-civ.eng.cam.ac.uk/cjb/cjbresearch1.html |publisher= University of Cambridge|title= Expert Systems for the Design of Prestressed Concrete - Complete |accessdate=2008-03-08]

Butetown Link Road

The km to mi|2.57|abbr=yes Butetown Link Road (Welsh: "Ffordd Gyswllt Butetown") between the Ferry Road Interchange (coord|51.453585|-3.184044|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Ferry Road Interchange) and the Queen's Gate Roundabout (coord|51.467873|-3.157455|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Queen's Gate Roundabout) was opened on 27 March, 1995 by Neil Kinnock. 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"."South Wales Echo", "A direct route on stilts to the Bay", Wednesday 17 June 1987, Page 14] 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 built instead."South Wales Echo", "Delay to link road will be at least one year", Tuesday 16 February 1988, Page 5] 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."South Wales Echo", "A road that lost its way?", Wednesday 29 March 1989, Page 12]

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,cite web |url=http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/1995/02/09/28707/retaining-a-major-share-of-the-home-market.html |publisher=Reed Business Information Limited |title=Retaining a major share of the home market |accessdate=2008-02-05] Davies Middleton & Davies Ltd have subsequently gone into administrative receivership.

Taff Viaduct

Construction of the m to ft|600|abbr=yes viaduct 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.

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.cite web |url= http://www.cbat.co.uk/projects/core/aprivateview.htm |publisher=CBAT, now called Public Art Wales |title= A Private View |accessdate=2008-03-08]

Queen's Gate Tunnel

The Queen's Gate Tunnel ( _cy. Twnnel Porth y Frenhines) is underneath southern Butetown and follows a line underneath the Wales Millennium Centre. The m to ft|715|abbr=yes 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.cite web |url=http://archive.cardiff.gov.uk/traffic/internet/telematics/pages_1/Tunnel%20Systems%20Info.htm |publisher=Cardiff Council |title=Tunnel Mechanical and Electrical Systems |accessdate=2008-02-05]

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.cite web |url=http://www.eiwhs.co.uk/projects/project4.html |publisher=EIWHS Ltd |title=Butetown Tunnel |accessdate=2008-02-05]

Eastern Bay Link Road

See Future developments below for further details.

It is envisaged that Eastern Bay Link Road ( _cy. 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 (coord|51.468090|-3.156193|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Queen's Gate Roundabout ) and Ocean Way Interchange (coord|51.472328|-3.144107|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Ocean Way Interchange) is at the planning stage.

The link road was previously 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. Later it became known as the Cardiff Bay Link Road until it was eventually renamed the Eastern Bay Link Road.

Southern Way Link Road

The Southern Way Link Road,cite web |url= http://archive.cardiff.gov.uk/government/english/Council_Papers/Licensing/02_11_13_lsc/Reports/Air%20Quality%20Action%20Plans-%2013%20Nov.pdf |publisher= City and County of Cardiff |title= Report of the Chief Regulatory Services Officer Page 21, reference to "Southern Way Link"|accessdate=2008-03-08|format=PDF] 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. 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. 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. It now includes the East Moors Viaduct, which is also known as the Southern Way Flyover. The 2.25 km (1.4 mi) link road now runs from the Rover Way – Lamby Way Roundabout (coord|51.493127|-3.133759|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Rover Way – Lamby Way Roundabout) to the Llanedeyrn Interchange (coord|51.507202|-3.145853|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Llanedeyrn Interchange) on the A48.

East Moors Viaduct

The East Moors Viaduct, 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.cite web |url= http://www.benaimgroup.com/awards.html |publisher=Benaim (UK) Ltd |title= Awards|accessdate=2008-02-01] The viaduct was constructed by concrete box girder deck of segmental construction.cite web |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=Yu8BMi80VW8C&pg=RA1-PA310&lpg=RA1-PA310&dq=%22east+moors+viaduct%22&source=web&ots=t5o8cWwG82&sig=4jbIcQS1DACEaYEjBvuAxtGKgu8#PPA13,M1 |publisher= books.google.com |title= Bridge Deck Behaviour by Edmund C. Hambly |accessdate=2008-03-08]

The East Moors Viaduct was originally known as the East Moors Link Road – Phase 2, now it is part of the Southern Way Link Road.

Pentwyn Link Road

The Pentwyn Link Road ( _cy. Ffordd Gyswllt Pentwyn), which is also known as the North Pentwyn Link Road, runs from the Pontrennau Interchange (coord|51.528660|-3.130240|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Pontrennau Interchange) on the A48 and the Pentwyn Interchange (coord|51.541525|-3.128749|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Pentwyn Interchange (M4 J30)) on the M4 (junction 30). It is 1.61 km (1.0 mi) in length and was opened on 20 June, 1994. 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.cite web |url= http://www.iht.org/motorway/m4cascor.htm |publisher= The Motorway Highway Trust |title= M4 in Wales. Castleton to Coryton (J29 to J32) – Interchanges |accessdate=2008-03-08]

Spur roads

Cogan Spur (A4055)

The Cogan Spur, which is also known as the Cogan Link, from the Ferry Road Interchange (coord|51.453519|-3.184876|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Ferry Road Interchange) to Barons Court Junction (coord|51.447910|-3.189787|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Barons Court Junction) on the A4160 was opened in 1988. It is only 0.8 km (0.5 mi), but it is an important link to provide access to the PDR from Penarth and the southern Vale of Glamorgan. It also bypasses the busy 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.cite web |url= http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/300207/sports_village_roads_works_plan_revealed/ |publisher= redOrbit.com |title= Sports Village Roads Works Plan Revealed |accessdate=2008-02-13] cite web |url= http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2874,4203&parent_directory_id=2865&id=514&Language= |publisher= Cardiff Council |title= Construction starts at Sports Village |accessdate=2008-02-13]

Cogan Viaduct

The Cogan Viaduct 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; m to ft|40|abbr=yes, m to ft|60|abbr=yes, 60 m, 60m, 95 m and 60 m. 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.cite web |url= http://www.mjcivil.com.au/servlet/Display?p=38 |publisher= MJ Civil Engineering |title= Infrastructure|accessdate= 2008-03-05] cite web |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=YEQOcWTrFc0C&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=%22cogan+viaduct%22&source=web&ots=vJ-ONREU91&sig=AghsYTqgPVTzZ9hBkvXJDJ-6Kn4 |publisher= books.google.com|title= Structural Integrity Assessment By Peter Stanley |accessdate=2008-03-08] The Cogan Viaduct was again designed by Robert Benaim and Associates, who won a Concrete Society Commendation in 1989 for the design.

Central Link Road (A4234)

The £8.5 million Central Link between the Queen's Gate Roundabout (coord|51.468399|-3.157366|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Queen's Gate Roundabout) and the junction on Adam Street (coord|51.479557|-3.167631|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Adam Street Junction) on the A4160 was opened on 16 February 1989. 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 (0.9 miles) and is entirely a two lane dual carriageway with clearway restrictions.

Ely Spur

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.cite web |url= http://consultation.limehouse.co.uk/cardiff/drafts/5/chapter_34.html |publisher=Cardiff Council |title= Cardiff Local Development Plan 2006-2021- Preferred Strategy Report paragraph 6.24 |accessdate=2008-02-01]

Cardiff Airport Link Road

See Future developments below.

Services

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,cite web |url= http://www.moto-way.com/page.cfm?Section=2&location=10&Category=Home|publisher= Moto|title= Cardiff West |accessdate=2008-04-12] while the services at Cardiff Gate includes petrol, Burger King, W H Smith and also Coffee Primo.cite web |url=http://www.welcomebreak.co.uk/FindMotorwayService/Cardiff.htm|publisher= Welcome Break |title= Cardiff Gate |accessdate=2008-04-12] 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.

Future developments

Eastern Bay Link Road – Phase 1

The proposed Eastern Bay Link Road, between the Butetown Link Road and the Southern Way Link Road is still on hold due to funding problems. This 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.cite web |url= http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2870,4048,4188,4243 |publisher=Cardiff Council |title= Cardiff Transportation Partnership |accessdate=2008-03-08] The cost of the link road could be GB£162 million and it could be paid for by congestion charging,cite web |url= http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/features/tm_headline=trying-to-squeeze-us-out-of-rush-hour-car-seats&method=full&objectid=17909473&siteid=50082-name_page.html |publisher= icWales |title= Trying to squeeze us out of rush-hour car seats |accessdate=2008-03-08] although a public-private partnership is also possible.cite web |url= http://www.newswales.co.uk/index.php?section=Transport&F=1&id=6879 |publisher= www.newswales.co.uk |title= Cardiff transport partnership moves forward |accessdate=2008-03-08] The original route of the link road had been challenged by both Friends of the Earth Cymru,cite web |url= http://www.foe.co.uk/cymru/english/press_releases/2001/assembly_transport_funding.html |publisher= Friends of the Earth |title= Transport Campaigners Welcome Much Needed Shift in Assembly Funding Priorities |accessdate=2008-03-08] and also the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), who had both lodged formal objections against the link road.cite web |url= http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/sites/wales/easternbay.asp |publisher= Royal Society for the Protection of Birds |title= Eastern Bay Link, Cardiff |accessdate=2008-03-08] However, the current proposal from Cardiff Council of 31 October 2006 is to complete the first phase of the road, approximately 1 km (0.6 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.cite web |url= http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2874,4202,4203&parent_directory_id=2865&id=4026&Language= |publisher=Cardiff Council |title= Delivering the Deliverable |accessdate=2008-03-08]

Cardiff Airport Link Road

The present road from junction 33 of the M4 motorway to Cardiff International Airport involves using the PDR along the Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross Link Road then transferring to the A4050 road at the Culverhouse Cross Interchange and then going onto the A4226 road north of Barry to the airport. The A4050 is also a busy commuter road for traffic from Barry to the M4 motorway and Cardiff, also the Culverhouse Cross Interchange is now very congested. It is for this reason that the Cardiff Airport Link Road has been proposed. The Cardiff Airport Link Road has also had similar funding problems to the Eastern Bay Link Road, and this too may also be funded by a Public-Private Partnership.

The scheme has gone through many studies and the last conducted by the WAG in August 2003 suggested 4 possible long term routes to link the airport with the motorway network.

* Scheme 1: Link road A4232 – A48

This scheme involves a new link road to the north of the Culverhouse Cross Interchange on the Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross Link Road (PDR) to the A48, and then improved access to the airport. The estimated cost of this scheme would be £58 million, including the widening of the PDR.

* Scheme 2: Link road A4232 – A48 – A4050

This scheme involves a new link road to the north of the Culverhouse Cross Interchange on the Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross Link Road to the A48 and onto the A4050, and again improved access to the airport. The estimated cost of this scheme would be £66m, including the widening of the PDR.
* Scheme 3: Link road A4232 – A4226

This scheme involves a new major highway route linking the Ely Link Road (PDR), south of the Culverhouse Cross Interchange, to the A4226 north of Barry. The estimated cost of this scheme would be £96m, including the widening of the PDR.

* Scheme 4: Road improvement M4 (junction 34) – A48 (Sycamore Cross)

This scheme involves an improved route between the M4 motorway at junction 34 to the A48 at Sycamore Cross. The estimated cost of this scheme would be £37m. This scheme does not involve any link with the PDR, but is instead a direct route from the M4.

In 2004 the WAG announced that the Cardiff Airport Link Road had been added to Phase 3 of the Trunk Road Forward Programme, which means that it would be unlikely to start before April 2010.cite web |url= http://new.wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/4038231141/403821125/Roads/1397573/1397675/1412043/Trunk_Road_Map_2004_Eng.pdf?lang=en |publisher= Welsh Assembly Government |title= Transport Wales 2004 Supplement |accessdate=2008-03-08]

In the short term it was decided to trunk existing roads before 2010. There was a public local inquiry into the trunking of the A48 from Culverhouse Cross to Sycamore Cross, the A4226 from Sycamore Cross to Waycock Cross (Airport Roundabout) and the Port Road (Airport Roundabout) between 9 May, 2006 and 12 May, 2006. The report dated February 2007 advised that the Minister at the WAG had decided not to trunk the route after objections to the scheme.cite web |url=http://new.wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/4038231141/403821125/TransportPublications/1536417/Airport_Trunking_Dec_Letter2.pdf?lang=en |publisher=Welsh Assembly Government |title= Trunking of the A48 & A4226 |accessdate=2008-03-08]

Since February 2007 the WAG have held public exhibitions in October, November and December 2007 to discuss the possible options for the link road.cite web |url= http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/roads/NewRoads3/ImprovingAccessToCardiffAirport/?lang=en |publisher= Welsh Assembly Government |title= Improving Access to Cardiff International Airport |accessdate=2008-03-08] The final outcome of this process may be that the Cardiff Airport Link Road does not become a spur road off of the PDR (Schemes 1 to 3) at all and links Cardiff International Airport to the M4 directly instead (Scheme 4).

Issues affecting the Peripheral Distributor Road

Traffic congestion due to new developments

There has been much discussion about traffic congestion around the PDR. Since the western link roads have been built, a number of major developments have been built or are in construction, such as the Cardiff Bay Retail Park, IKEA, Celtic Gateway, and Cardiff International Sports Village. The Cardiff International Sports Village includes the Cardiff International Pool, Morrisons and Toys "R" Us stores and these have all generated additional traffic at the Ferry Road Interchange. In addition, the soon to be completed new Cardiff City stadium, the new Cardiff International Sports Stadium and the Capital Retail Park, which includes new stores for Asda and Marks & Spencer, will significantly increase traffic on the Leckwith Interchange. 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.cite web |url= http://wales.gov.uk/916148/916555/1482420/Airport_access_report_2003.pdf?lang=en |publisher= Welsh Assembly Government |title= The A48/A4232 Culverhouse Cross and Airport Access Study "The Way Forward" |accessdate= 2008-02-01] The question put by Sean Wilcox of the Western Mail is, has the "Link (road) become overburdened? And if so, what are the implications?"

The Vale of Glamorgan Council also expressed reservations about the new developments of the Cardiff International Sports Village and the new 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.cite web |url= http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/our_council/council/minutes,_agendas__reports/reports/cabinet/2006/06-11-08/06-11-08_ref_from_planning.aspx |publisher= Vale of Glamorgan Council |title= North and West Cardiff – Area Transport Study |accessdate=2008-03-08]

The "missing link" (Eastern Bay Link Road)

The main road link from the east into Cardiff Bay remains the M4 motorway leading onto the A48 and then short stretch of along the Southern Way Link road (PDR) and then onto Rover Way. Locally Rover Way is known as "scrap alley", because it passes a sewerage treatment plant, a scrap metal business and the city's landfill site. It has been suggested that if the eastern part (Eastern Bay Link Road) of the Peripheral Distributor Road had been built first, they (South Glamorgan County Council, now Cardiff Council) would simply never have got round to building the western link (Capel Llanilltern - Culverhouse Cross Link, Ely Link, Grangetown Link and Butetown Link roads). Nevertheless the so called "missing link" (Eastern Bay Link Road) between Cardiff Bay and the Southern Way Link poses a threat to the continued development of Cardiff Bay, if the link road is not completed.cite web |url= http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/columnists/2006/06/14/cardiff-bay-looks-great-if-only-the-access-was-better-91466-17225858/ |publisher= icWales |title= Cardiff Bay looks great - if only the access was better |accessdate=2008-03-08]

Notes

References

* Cardiff & Newport A-Z Street Atlas 2007 Edition

ee also

*Transport in Cardiff

External links

* [http://www.road-to-nowhere.co.uk/route-guides/A4232/map.html A4232 Exit List on www.road-to-nowhere.co.uk]
* [http://www.multimap.com/maps/?title=Ely%20Viaduct%20swimming%20site&t=l&
]
* [http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3384 City & County of Cardiff Local Transport Plan 2000 - 2016, Cardiff Council, August 2000]
* [http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/objview.asp?Object_ID=3895& A Change of Gear (Green Paper), Cardiff Council, December 2002]
* [http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3896 Keeping Cardiff Moving (White Paper), Cardiff Council, May 2003]
* [http://www.swtra.co.uk/ South Wales Trunk Road Agency website]
* [http://www.traffic-wales.com/ Traffic Wales website]
* [http://www-civ.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/cjbimages/grangetown.jpgPhoto of Grangetown Viaduct being built]
* [http://archive.cardiff.gov.uk/traffic/internet/telematics/pages_1/Tunnel%20Systems%20Info.htm Cardiff Council information on the Queen's Gate Tunnel]

Webcams on the Capel Llanilltern – Culverhouse Cross Link Road

"The following images updates every five minutes – click ‘refresh’ for the latest."
* [http://members.traffic-wales.com/cctvimages/camera167.jpgCapel Llanilltern Junction (A4232 and M4 J33)]
* [http://members.traffic-wales.com/cctvimages/camera1011.jpgSouth of Capel Llanilltern]
* [http://members.traffic-wales.com/cctvimages/camera1015.jpgNorth of St Brides-super-Ely]
* [http://members.traffic-wales.com/cctvimages/camera1021.jpgSouth of St Brides-super-Ely]
* [http://members.traffic-wales.com/cctvimages/camera1035.jpgSt Fagans Slip Road]