Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Katie-Ann Gupwell

Closure of Cardiff's Westgate Street causes chaos and confusion for bus passengers

The dilemma of where to catch a bus in Cardiff city centre has got even more confusing commuters say after roadworks closed off a usually busy street.

Cardiff has been without a dedicated bus station for more than four years and people wanting to catch a bus have had to make do with a series of "satellite" stops around the Welsh capital.

However, commuters say the situation has got even more difficult after roadworks on Westgate Street got underway.

As well as causing traffic chaos and long delays, a number of bus stops are out of action.

Passengers are far from happy about it - prompting several complaints to transport firm Cardiff Bus.

The emergency works, which are expected to last eight weeks, started on Sunday and are being carried out by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water to fix a sewer.

The works mean the road will be closed to through traffic from just below the Angel Hotel through to the Guildhall. Traffic marshals will man the gated points of entry 24 hours a day.

But officials also vowed that the majority of bus stops would "continue to operate".

However while the works were announced well in advance, bus users have said the situation with bus stops has been badly planned and described their journeys in and out of Cardiff as nightmare.

Cardiff Bus insisted it had warned commuters about "heavy delays" on its services and advised people to allow extra time to travel.

To try and keep the number of bus stop changes and disruption to buses to a minimum, the council proposed changes to direction of travel in the area.

The one-way system on Havelock Street will be reversed so that buses can travel south from Park Street to Wood Street. 

As well as this, Park Street will be a two-way system for buses between Westgate Street and Havelock Street.

Westgate Street is officially closed for eight weeks (WalesOnline)

What are the diversions I need to know about?

To enable commuters to know where they're going, Cardiff Bus has put this table together to help people out.

Below are all the diversions listed and explained by the company.

When asked about the disruption to services, a Cardiff Bus spokesman said: “The closure of Westgate Street is currently causing delays to many of our services and we apologise to our customers for the inconvenience.

“Our buses are accessing Westgate Street but there are some diversions. There are two bus stops on Westgate Street that are not in use.

"These are stop KH (Royal Hotel) and stop KL which is the 17/18 service bus stop.

“Services 17/18 are using a temporary stop further along Westgate Street on the other side of the Principality Stadium entrance (opposite Bar44).

“Services 44, 45, 49, 50 & X45 which would normally serve the Royal Hotel bus stop are using a temporary bus stop on Wood Street, only a few metres away from the original stop.

Buses could be seen queuing the length of the street on Monday (WalesOnline/Ffion Lewis)

He added: “Services 52, 57, 58 are entering the city centre via Station Terrace, Guildford Street, Bridge Street, David Street, Mary Ann Street, Bute Terrace and Customhouse Street. 

"Customers can catch these services from Customhouse Street stop JG or Churchill Way HN (service 52) or HP (services 57 & 58). 

"These services will not serve:  Dumfries Place, Greyfriars Road, Kingsway or Westgate Street.

“In addition to the Westgate Street stops, Havelock Street stop JU is not in use and customers wishing to catch service 27 can do so from Wood Street stop JR.

“Other services are diverting but will continue to serve their normal city centre stops, including those on Westgate Street.

“Customers are advised to check our website for full details of the diversions, and keep an eye on our social media channels which will alert customers of any changes.”

Previously, the council had also said it realised the length of the roadworks was "a large amount of time" but the repairs were essential and it was better for them to be carried out now rather than around the Christmas period.

 
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.