Coming to Cardiff during the World Half Marathon Championship? This is what you need to know

Roads throughout Cardiff will be closed-off to the public this week due to the World Half Marathon Championship being held in the city on Saturday.

Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah is competing in the race which is seen as "one of the most prestigious global running events."

Due to the road closures Cardiff City Council has issued advice for residents, shoppers and visitors.

Road closures on Saturday March 26th:

  • From 4am until 5pm: Kingsway, Duke Street, Castle Street and Cowbridge Road East to its junction with Cathedral Road. Westgate Street will stay open North West Bound until 11.30am.

  • At 11 30am – North Road from its junction with Column Road to its junction with Boulevard de Nantes will close. Those travelling into the city centre via the A470 will need to travel down Column Road and Park Place.

  • At 12 30pm – The route road closures will be put in place.

  • From 2 30pm until 2 45pm - North Road from its junction with Column Road to its junction with Boulevard de Nantes will re-open but Column Road and Park Place will close. Those wishing to travel in an out of the city centre at this time are advised to use Boulevard de Nantes and North Road.

  • From 5pm - North Road, Kingsway, Duke Street, Castle Street, Westgate Street and Cowbridge Road East to its junction with Cathedral Road will re-open.

  • From 3 30pm until 7pm – Route road closures will re-open as the last runners finish the race.

Credit: Cardiff City Council

Advice for shoppers:

Those that wish to access the city centre to go shopping are advised to use the Park and Ride facility at County Hall.

The Council advises shoppers to head into the city centre before 11am and to plan to leave after 2.30pm.

Access to and from the north of the city will also be maintained either down North Road or Park Place, depending on the time you travel.

We expect that there will be considerable congestion on the highway network from 9am until 9pm on race day, with the queuing time on the highway expected to be up to 1.5hrs.

Park and ride facilities for shoppers will run from County Hall from 9am until 6pm, and takes you directly to John Lewis. Cost £3 per car.

There will be a staff presence from 9am, with the car park opening at 9 30am.

The last bus will leave the pick-up point on Canal Street (by John Lewis) with the car park closing at 9 30pm.

Credit: PA

National Express Services:

All National Express Services will continue to operate from Sophia Gardens and are not affected by this event.

Cardiff Bus services:

The following Bus Satellite Points will be set up and the following Cardiff Bus Services will run from these points on Saturday March 26th:

  • Greyfriars Road Area – 21/21A, 23/23A, 24/24A, 27, 28/28A, 35 and 38

  • The Parade, Newport Road – 13 (Cyncoed), 30, 44/45, 49/50, 52, 57/58

  • Wyndham Crescent, Canton –1 and 2 (to/from Heath Hospital), 15, 17/18, 61, 66 and 96

  • Sophia Gardens – 25, 62 and 63

The following Cardiff Bus Services will be modified:

  • Buses that cross the city on routes 13 and 95 will be split and run to their respective new

  • terminal points

  • Baycar buses will run between County Hall and Customhouse Street only

  • Buses to Barry and Penarth (not 96) will start and end in Canal Street and will not serve Grangetown or Penarth Road

  • Buses to Pontprennau and Cyncoed will not serve Albany Road or Wellfield Road

  • Buses to Thornhill via Lakeside on 28/28A will not serve Lakeside

Stagecoach services:

  • All Stagecoach services will start and terminate at Greyfriars Road all day

  • Buss 122 – will run via North Road and will not serve Cathedral Road

  • Bus 124 – will run via North Road all day and will not serve Cathedral Road

  • Bus x3 – will run via North Road between 12 mid-day and 5 30pm and will not serve Newport

  • Road

  • Bus X16 – will run via North Road after 12 Mid-day and will not serve Newport Road (between Rumney Hill and the City Centre) for the rest of the day.

Credit: PA

Train advice from Arriva Trains Wales:

There will be major Network Rail Engineering Works on the Cardiff and Valley network between 9pm on Saturday March 26th and Tuesday March 29th.

This will involve major service amendments on the local Cardiff and Valleys train network due to essential modernisation work being undertaken by Network Rail.

The work will not start until 9pm on Saturday due to the World Half Marathon taking place in Cardiff.

Many local services into and out of Cardiff will be affected with bus replacements in operation, diversions will also be in place via different routes and trains will start and terminate from different stations.

Customers using local rail services during this period are advised to check journey plans before travelling.

Credit: PA

Taxi advice from Cardiff Council:

Both Mill Lane and St Mary Street taxi rank will remain open during this event.

For any complaints about taxi drivers refusing fares or overcharging, please take details of the driver/cab number/date/location and time and report the incident, by email to licensing@cardiff.gov.uk

Throughout this week there will be a staggered road closures in the city's Civic Centre so the finishing area for the race can be built:

Credit: Cardiff Council
Credit: Cardiff Council
Credit: Cardiff Council
Credit: Cardiff Council
Credit: Cardiff Council