Cardiff: Some main roads to revert to 30mph from 20mph

The maximum speed limit on four busy roads in Cardiff will be changed back to 30mph from 20mph.

A review of the Welsh government’s 20mph speed limit was announced last year following a public backlash.

The 20mph speed limit, covering 37% of the Welsh road network, was brought in by the Welsh government in September 2023.

Cardiff council said the proposed changes should help ease congestion on main roads in and out of the city.

The local authority listened to views of residents, businesses and transport companies before making its decision.

More stretches of road are expected to revert to 30mph, especially those away from built-up areas.

Last month, it was announced that 50 stretches of road in Wrexham would revert to 20mph.

The council reviewed 192 roads, but many requests were not eligible due to various factors, including road characteristics and location.

The affected routes include sections of Newport Road, Ocean Way, Hadfield Road, and a small part of Western Avenue.

Cardiff council asked the public, bus companies, local councillors, MPs, Senedd members, and other city stakeholders on which roads should revert to 30mph and their reasons why.

It received 933 requests to revert the speed limit across 232 roads.

However, 40 roads were disqualified due to not having a 20mph limit or being outside Cardiff, and of the 192 roads reviewed, 178 received fewer than 10 requests.

Excalibur Drive, in north Cardiff received the most requests – 207 from 26 residents, but it did not qualify, as it surrounds numerous properties and community facilities.

The roads that will revert back to 30mph are:

• Newport Road: All of Newport Road – except for a section of carriageway which runs outside St Illtyd’s Catholic School.
• Western Avenue: A small section of this road west of the Taff River Bridge and to the junction with Cardiff Road/Llandaff Road.
• Ocean Way: From its junction with Beignon Close to Rover Way
• Hadfield Road: Between the junction with Leckwith Road and Penarth Road.

Mr De’Ath added that the 20mph policy reduces traffic-related casualties and encourages walking and cycling, and said the speed limit will remain in areas with high pedestrian and cyclist activity unless evidence proved higher speeds were safe.

“This approach balances the need for efficient traffic flow with the safety and well-being of all road users,” he said.

The selected roads will return to 30mph following a legally required Traffic Regulation Process.