Limit reduced to 30mph on one of city’s busiest roads
ONE of Cardiff’s busiest roads is being made 30mph.
The formerly 40mph stretch of Northern Avenue from Caedelyn Road, down through Ash Grove and Manor Way will now be 30mph.
The council says all 40mph signs on Northern Avenue have been taken down, but the process to replace the signs on some side roads which lead onto it are yet to be removed.
The work is due to be completed shortly – but no completion date is yet known.
The council got permission in 2015 via a Traffic Regulation Order to reduce the speed limit which it says is to improve road safety. It is only now that it is being implemented and the 40mph signs removed and replaced.
A council spokesman said drivers should follow the limit shown on the signs at each point of the road but be aware that not all the signs are yet in place.
Drivers should be aware the limit varies between 30mph and 40mph while the new signs are being installed.
If the speed limit signs are still showing as 40mph, drivers can still drive at 40mph but anyone doing 40mph in an area with signs indicating 30mph could be prosecuted for speeding.
The advice is to follow Rule 124 of the highway code and stick to 30mph. That rule states which says: “You must not exceed the maximum speed limits for the road and for your vehicle. The presence of street light generally means that there is a 30mph speed limit unless otherwise specified.”
Enforcement will only happen when the signs are up, according to the spokesman.
A council spokesman said: “The reduction from 40mph to 30mph is designed to improve road safety following lane width reduction works and the opening of new bus priority lanes on this stretch of road. The council has now begun work changing the speed limit signs to match the Traffic Regulation Order.
“Drivers are advised to note the speed limit on on-street signs. We expect work on 30mph signage on side roads leading onto this stretch of highway to be completed shortly.”
But some drivers say the changes should have been publicised more widely.
Writing on the Whitchurch Pact Facebook group, Kevin Sprudd said the scheme was “money grabbing”.
Kate Miles said: “Think it should have been publicised more”.
Whitchurch and Tongwynlais Conservative Councillor Mike Phillips said: “What residents have been saying to me is that the new speed limit has been implemented and that some say they have been picking up speeding tickets. If what they’re suggesting is true it would be unfair because there has been no clear communication.
“I don’t think any resident, even those who followed the changes around the introduction of the bus lane two years ago, would have expected it to have happened yesterday.
“I think the council should have done a better job of informing people. I drove it this morning leaving the city and the 40mph sign by The Philog has been removed but I would question whether regular drivers would have noticed that.
“I think they could have looked at having a temporary flashing sign alerting drivers to the new speed limit.”
The council says it is not aware of any plans to introduce a new speed camera in the area.
It says temporary signs will be introduced soon to warn drivers and the 40mph signs on side roads should be removed before the weekend.