The city council has published a timetable of extended road closures in Cardiff’s Civic Centre to allow the setup and staging of the Cardiff Half Marathon and its associated race village. The measures begin in the week before the race and remain in place until the Monday after the event, with the busiest disruption expected on race day, Sunday 4 October.
When closures begin and end
Closures for event infrastructure will start early on Wednesday 30 September and continue until midnight on Monday 5 October. The council said thousands of runners are expected for the event and that the city centre will be exceptionally busy, urging local people and visitors to allow extra travel time and plan alternative routes where possible.
- Set-up closures begin at 5am on Wednesday 30 September.
- Major road closures on race day are in force from 4am to 12 noon, with additional time-limited closures between 6am and 10.45am.
- Normal traffic arrangements are due to resume after 11.59pm on Monday 5 October.
Key streets affected
The council outlined closures in stages to enable the construction of the race village and event infrastructure and to protect runners on the day. Vehicle access to private parking areas and deliveries will be maintained until 9am on the day of the race in affected Civic Centre roads, and emergency services access will be preserved throughout.
| Period | Roads affected |
|---|---|
| 5am Wed 30 Sep – 11.59pm Mon 5 Oct | College Road (from Museum Avenue to King Edward VII Avenue) |
| 5am Thu 1 Oct – 11.59pm Mon 5 Oct | King Edward VII Avenue (closed end with Boulevard de Nantes to City Hall Road) |
| 5am Fri 2 Oct – 11.59pm Sun 4 Oct | Further Civic Centre roads including parts of King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, Gorsedd Gardens Road and City Hall Road |
| 4am – 12 noon Sun 4 Oct (race day) | North Road (south of Boulevard de Nantes to A4161), A4161, Kingsway, Duke Street, Castle Street, Cowbridge Road East (to Cathedral Road) |
What this means for residents and businesses
Cardiff Council has said deliveries and private parking access will be retained up to 9am on Sunday 4 October, after which normal vehicular movement in the closed areas will be restricted until the relevant reopening times. The council also confirmed that South Wales Police and emergency services will retain access where required.
For those living and trading in the Civic Centre and nearby streets, the council’s message is straightforward: expect disruption, rethink journeys and allow additional time. For commuters using routes through the central area on the morning of the race, alternative routes should be arranged in advance.
Residents and visitors are advised to plan ahead and leave plenty of time for their journey.
Event organisers typically publish more detailed spectator and transport information closer to the race, including public transport arrangements and suggested viewing points. Anyone with specific concerns about access to properties or deliveries during the closures should contact Cardiff Council for guidance.
The Half Marathon is one of the city’s major sporting events and draws a large number of participants and spectators, bringing a short-term spike in activity to shops, cafés and other local businesses. While the closures are disruptive for some, they are intended to ensure the safety of runners and the smooth running of the event.
Cardiff residents planning to drive through the city on the last weekend in September and first weekend in October should check council updates and allow extra travel time.
