Thousands of runners will take part in the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday, with extensive road closures in place across the capital. The 13.3-mile race begins outside Cardiff Castle, passing the Principality Stadium, Cardiff City Stadium, Penarth Marina, Cardiff Bay and Roath Park before finishing in the Civic Centre.
The event will cause significant disruption for motorists, residents and businesses. Some roads have already closed to allow race infrastructure to be installed, while others will be shut for the duration of the race or subject to rolling closures.
Start times and pens
The Cardiff Half Marathon begins in Castle Street from 10am on Sunday, October 4, with the elite wheelchair race starting at 9.57am. Organisers have staggered the start to ensure runners can cross the start line safely.
The white, green, red and pink pens start at 10am, with pens opening at 9.15am. The blue, purple and yellow pens start at 10.10am, with pens opening at 9.40am.
Road closures on race day
Between 4am and 12 noon, the following roads will be closed: North Road south of its junction with Boulevard de Nantes to its junction with the A4161; the A4161 from its junction with North Road to its junction with Kingsway; Kingsway from its junction with the A4161 to its junction with Duke Street; Duke Street and Castle Street in their entirety; and Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Castle Street to its junction with Cathedral Road.
Between 6am and 10.45am, North Road will be closed from its junction with Colum Road to its junction with Boulevard de Nantes. Access to Blackweir will be available via Park Place, Corbett Road and northbound North Road.
Between 10am and 3.10pm, the following roads will be closed: Colum Road; and Park Place from its junction with St Andrews Place to its junction with Colum Road. Diversion routes will be in place where required.
Access arrangements and rolling closures
Temporary security measures will mean changes to access in some areas. Access will only be permitted into Beatty Avenue from Lake Road North, including Jellicoe Gardens, Keys Avenue and Tyrwhitt Crescent. Access to Queen Anne Square will be managed via Colum Road and Corbett Road, with vehicles exiting via Corbett Road and northbound North Road. Lady Mary Road will be closed from its junction with Maryport Road to its junction with Lake Road East.
Between 8.30am and 3.10pm on Sunday, October 4, there will be rolling road closures along the race route. Roads will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. The route will pass along Cowbridge Road East from Cathedral Road; Wellington Street, Leckwith Road and Sloper Road; Penarth Road, Cardiff Bay Barrage, Harbour Drive and Roald Dahl Plas; via the Vale of Glamorgan boundary – Terra Nova Way and Penarth Portway; Harbour Drive and Roald Dahl Plas; Britannia Quay, Pierhead Street and Bute Place; Lloyd George Avenue; Herbert Street, Tyndall Street, East Tyndall Street and Windsor Road; Adam Street and Fitzalan Place, crossing Newport Road; West Grove, Richmond Road and Albany Road; Penylan Road, Blenheim Road, Marlborough Road and Ninian Road; Fairoak Road, Lake Road East and Lake Road West; Fairoak Road, Cathays Terrace and Corbett Road; and Museum Avenue, where the race finishes.
Vehicle access to Cathays Cemetery will be facilitated via Allensbank Road until Fairoak Road reopens. Access will then resume via the main entrance.
Cardiff Bay and Civic Centre closures
Residents and businesses in Cardiff Bay will receive additional information showing the diversion route managed by Cardiff Council to allow access and egress throughout the event. The diversion route will operate via Celerity Drive, Craiglee Drive, Letton Way, Lloyd George Avenue and Bute Place. As soon as road closures are lifted in the area, access and egress will return to normal.
College Road will be closed from its junction with Museum Avenue to its junction with King Edward VII Avenue until Monday night at 11.59pm. Vehicle access to private parking and deliveries will be maintained until 9am on Sunday, October 4. King Edward VII Avenue will be closed from its closed end with Boulevard de Nantes to its junction with City Hall Road.
The following roads will be closed until 11.59pm on Sunday, October 4: King Edward VII Avenue from its closed end with Boulevard de Nantes to its junction with City Hall Road, and from its junction with Corbett Road to its junction with City Hall Road; Museum Avenue from its closed end with Corbett Road to its junction with Gorsedd Gardens Road; Gorsedd Gardens Road from its junction with Park Place to its junction with Museum Avenue; and City Hall Road from its junction with North Road to its junction with Museum Avenue. Vehicle access to private parking and deliveries will be maintained until 9am on Sunday, October 4. Access for emergency services and South Wales Police will be maintained where required during the event.
