Traffic warnings as 60,000 rugby fans head to city centre

EXPECT road closures, fewer public parking spaces, more police, and extra train staff handing out fines – that’s the warning ahead of the Easter weekend in Cardiff.

There will be changes to transport due to back-to-back rugby games at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

Cardiff Blues, Ospreys, Newport Gwent Dragons and Scarlets will all be in action as part of Judgement Day and more than 60,000 fans are expected to attend.

Cardiff Blues take on the Ospreys at 2.45pm followed by Newport Gwent Dragons playing the Scarlets at 5.15pm.

That means there will be a full city centre road closure from 12.45pm until 8.15pm.

People travelling by train are being advised to get to Cardiff three hours before kick-off.

Queen Street railway station will close at 4.30pm so people are told to use Cardiff Central instead. A queuing system will be in place at Cardiff Central and the details can be viewed on the Arriva Trains Wales website.

If any safety concerns arise then Wood Street, Westgate Street, Park Street, Havelock Street, St Mary Street, Penarth Road, Saunders Road and Customhouse Street will remain closed until these issues are resolved.

There will also be more police officers on the streets and bags will be searched as fans make their way into the stadium. Anyone boarding the train is told to buy a ticket beforehand as train ‘revenue protection teams’ will be operating.

There will also be limited access to the area around the civic centre.

Access will only be for match-day parking, loading, and access to private car parks.

The roads affected include King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road and Gorsedd Gardens Road.

The event park and ride for Judgement Day is at Cardiff City Stadium while parking is also available at Sophia Gardens.

Buses not able to use their normal stops will use Churchill Way for the east, Greyfriars Road for the north or Tudor Street for the west.