Our most recent series of drop-in sessions focused on the vision for Llantrisant Road. For anyone who couldn’t make it, we’ve shared some of the most frequently asked questions, and our answers, here.
Traffic is already a problem in the area, why aren’t you adding more lanes for cars to use instead of bus and cycle lanes?
Plasdŵr has been designed in line with Cardiff Council’s wider transport strategy for the city, which can be found here. As part of this strategy, Cardiff Council is encouraging people to use their cars less often and opt for more sustainable modes of transport instead. Eventually, the aim is for half of all journeys in Cardiff to be made sustainably, with only half made by car. From the very beginning, the masterplan for Plasdŵr has been underpinned by this transport strategy and a commitment to active travel. For residents at Plasdŵr, walking and cycling will be the easiest ways to get around, followed by using the bus. When Plasdŵr is complete, three super cycleways will run through the development, connecting Plasdŵr with the rest of Cardiff.
What’s happening off the highway next to the Heol Isaf roundabout – is that going to be a pond?
As part of the drainage strategy for Plasdŵr, we’re installing a number of basins to capture the water run-off from the new development. The attenuation basins at Heol Isaf will to collect surface water and channel it into underground drainage pipes where it will be directed into the public sewers. While they’ve been designed to be visually appealing, they’ll only be completely full and have the appearance of ponds after heavy rainfall.
These basins will become important habitats for wildlife and will be sown with wetland, wildflower and grassland seed mixes as well as plants. They won’t be created out of concrete. Some of the basins have been designed with artificial linings to give them permanent shallow water and are only likely to be empty in times of drought.
Each basin will be individually assessed for safety and have added features such as fencing to ensure they’re not dangerous for members of the public.
What are your traffic management plans for the next few months?
From the week commencing 2nd March our contractors, Alun Griffiths, will start removing the current Heol Isaf roundabout and replacing it with a new, four-way signalised junction. During this time, traffic will use the newly constructed lanes on the northern side of the carriageway where a temporary mini roundabout will be created allowing traffic to travel as normal along Llantrisant Road.
Traffic travelling from Heol Isaf will use the temporary roundabout to turn right onto Llantrisant Road, heading towards Llantrisant. To head left towards Cardiff, traffic from Heol Isaf will use the newly constructed slip road to bypass the roundabout altogether. There will be no left turn at the roundabout for traffic coming from Heol Isaf.
These arrangements are expected to be in place until the new junction is complete in summer 2020. Temporary traffic lights may be required between the hours of 09:30-15:30 to ensure the safety of road users and our contractors.
How will traffic be managed once the Clos Parc Radur and Heol Isaf roundabouts become signalised junctions?
The sequencing of traffic lights at these junctions will be managed by Cardiff Council, in line with their transport strategy for the city.
With all the development happening in the area, air quality is a big concern. What are you doing to tackle this?
We know that air quality is a key concern for Cardiff residents. The masterplan for Plasdŵr shares Cardiff Council’s vision to reduce congestion and single-use car journeys by making it easy for people to choose more sustainable, greener ways of getting around. As part of our Section 106 contributions, we’re also also paying over £30,000 towards air quality monitoring in the local area.