BUT ROAD CLOSURES CAUSE MISERY FOR SOME AS THEY LEAD TO DISRUPTION IN THE CITY CENTRE
CHAMPIONS League preparations brought Cardiff city centre to a halt yesterday evening after a major road was closed ahead of the men’s and women’s finals.
Cowbridge Road East was closed to vehicles and pedestrians between Westgate Street and Cathedral Road.
The move was made so a temporary footbridge could be built over the road, providing a walkway for fans between Bute Park and the National Stadium of Wales where Real Madrid take on Juventus this Saturday.
Motorists were left facing excruciating congestion which led to major delays on public transport.
Pedestrians also had to take major detours in order to get back to cars and homes.
One person said: “Our car is parked around there now, we have to walk around the longer way, but it’s understandable, it’s a big event for Cardiff.
“It’s more the fact that we weren’t told about it that’s an issue.”
A waitress, who works at a restaurant in Cardiff, said: “It’s had an impact on us as we haven’t been able to get any deliveries today.
“We had to make sure everything was ordered prior to this happening.
“But on a personal level, I’ll just have to take an alternative route home.
“It’s fine, I’m just a bit confused as to why they shut the road now.”
A spokesman for Cardiff council said: “The www.cardiff2017.wales website and the @Cardiff17Travel Twitter feed is updating on changes as and when they happen.
“We would advise people to visit the website and Twitter feed to find out the latest on road closures in the city.”
There were also major issues regarding cars leaving St David’s Shopping Centre and the John Lewis car park with some vehicles reportedly stuck for two or three hours.
Steven Madeley, general manager for St David’s Cardiff, said: “Following road restrictions put in place across the city for the Champions League final there has been severe congestion across Cardiff, resulting in long delays on exiting the car park.
“We are working hard to ease the wait, with our teams on hand at the exit barriers to ensure that customers can leave as quickly and safely as possible.
“Those who have already paid for parking can re-park and return to the centre, and we will honour the tickets when vehicles are collected.”
Cowbridge Road East will remain closed to vehicles for the next five days.
Elsewhere it has been revealed that a giant fence will split one of the city centre’s major roads on Saturday.
Westgate Street – opposite the stadium’s main entrance – will be cut in half in order to separate ticket-holders, according to bar staff who have been briefed on the security situation around the “inner security zone”.
Although South Wales Police would not disclose what the structure would be, they and Cardiff council confirmed there would be access along Westgate Street for revellers wanting to visits bars, pubs and clubs a stone’s throw away from the stadium.
Anyone wanting to visit venues down the strip is being advised to bring ID and use side streets.
The segregation means ticketholders will have to enter via checkpoints at either end of Westgate Street before going into the stadium.
And only ticket-holders will be allowed on the side of the street near the stadium, leaving the other half free for pub-goers to wander as they please.
Sam Williams, manager at ZeroDegrees in Westgate Street, said customers are still welcome to visit on the night and book as normal.
She said: “I’d advise if you want to get to us, you come in via the side streets and bring ID and a confirmation email if you book.
“We’ve been told we can still take bookings but don’t want people being caught in the crowd.”
And other popular drinking haunts along the strip, such as Brewdog, Queen’s Vaults and Urban Tap House, all said they would be open as normal for the big event.