Cardiff Council has been awarded Civil Project of the Year Award for 2023/24 for the Central Square Transport Scheme.

The award relates to the transformation of Wood Street, which includes a new road layout; new bus lanes; rain gardens to manage surface water drainage; improvements to the public realm and a highway network which gives priority to buses ready for when the new Transport Interchange opens to the public.

The scheme is also the first of its kind in Wales, with a pedestrian crossing built specifically to accommodate blind and partially sighted people, with additional planting and ‘bee bus stops’ installed to increase biodiversity in the city centre.

Cardiff Council contracted Knights Brown to undertake the work, which took place during the COVID Pandemic.

Cllr Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said: “The award is testament to all the hard work that has been put in by council officers and the contractor to complete this scheme on time and within budget. I am also pleased that we worked with a range of organisations through the consultation to ensure we delivered a scheme which is fit for all users, as well as improving the traffic flow in this area of the city.

“The Council has worked very closely with disability groups to install a bespoke pedestrian crossing that caters for blind and partially sighted people. I know this has been warmly welcomed by RNIB and put forward as a model of best practice for when other pedestrian crossings are implemented across the city.

“Wood Street has been transformed. Not only does the street look far better than previously with additional planting and a new road layout, but the engineering will also ensure that the road doesn’t flood in bad weather and the new Bus Interchange will be able to operate efficiently, ensuring that buses are given priority over general traffic.”