Cardiff is set for another busy weekend as Wales take on Japan at Principality Stadium this Saturday. With large crowds expected, the city centre will see extensive road closures and extra travel measures, so anyone heading in is being urged to plan ahead and give themselves plenty of time.
Traffic on the M4 is likely to be heavy throughout the afternoon ahead of kick off at 5:40pm. To avoid the worst of the congestion, drivers are encouraged to use the park and ride at Vindico Arena in Cardiff Bay.
Live updates will be available on the Traffic Wales website at www.traffic.wales or via @TrafficWalesS on social media. Supporters should also check the prohibited items list at principalitystadium.wales before travelling, as large bags will not be allowed into the stadium.
Road closures
Scott Road and Park Street will close from 7am for early match day preparations.
From 1.30pm, the main city centre closure comes into effect. Roads affected include Kingsway, Cowbridge Road East, Tudor Street, Plantagenet Street, Beauchamp Street, Duke Street, Castle Street, High Street, St Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street and Scott Road.
Station Terrace and Guildford Street will remain open for buses only.
Penarth Road will close roughly 30 minutes before the end of the match and reopen up to an hour afterwards, helping manage crowds heading to the station.
Civic Centre access
Controlled access will be in place throughout the day in and around King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road and Gorsedd Gardens Road.
Trains
GWR will run additional services before and after the game. Pre match services will require reservations, so passengers should book ahead. After the match, a queuing system will be in place outside Cardiff Central.
TfW will also increase capacity across its routes. Mainline queues will form in Central Square, while Valleys line queues will be at the rear of Cardiff Central station.
Cardiff Queen Street station will close from 7pm, though access will still be available for passengers heading to Cardiff Bay or for those needing accessible travel.
Bus Interchange
The Cardiff Bus Interchange will close from 1.30pm to 10pm.
Revenue checks will take place before and after the match. Pay As You Go is available on TfW and CrossCountry across the South Wales Metro, although it does not apply to GWR. TfW volunteers will be on hand throughout the day.
Park and ride
Vindico Arena, International Drive, Cardiff Bay (CF11 0JS)
- Opens 10am
- First bus 10.30am
- Last bus from city centre 8.30pm
- Closes 10pm
- Cost £15 cash only
- Drop off and pick up at Callaghan Square
Event day parking
Civic Centre event parking costs £20 for cars and £30 for coaches. It is open from 8am until midnight, and drivers should leave the M4 at Junction 32 and follow signs for the Civic Centre.
Sophia Gardens offers the same prices and opening hours. It is staffed until 7pm, and vehicles left overnight are at the owner’s risk.
Bus services
Local buses will follow diverted routes during the closures. The latest updates can be found on:
Stagecoach: www.stagecoachbus.com
Cardiff Bus: www.cardiffbus.com/principality-stadium
Adventure Travel: www.adventuretravel.cymru
National Express coaches will continue to operate from Sophia Gardens.
Walking and cycling
Cycleways within the closure zone will remain open, although cyclists are asked to take extra care due to the number of people expected in the city.
City centre parking
North Road, St David’s, John Lewis, Capitol and NCP car parks on Adam Street, Dumfries Place and Greyfriars Road will all remain open.
Disabled parking
Disabled drivers are advised to use Sophia Gardens, along with accessible spaces offered by private operators across the city.
Taxis
The St Mary Street taxi rank will close and reopen in line with the city centre restrictions.
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