We are improving Kingsway as part of Phase 1A of the Cardiff to Newport sustainable transport corridor. The Newport Road corridor is part of a wider corridor scheme proposal.
Where the changes are
The wider route goes from the city centre to the county boundary with Newport, where it will eventually join Newport's sustainable corridor work.
From North Road, the Phase 1A route goes along:
- Boulevard De Nantes,
- Stuttgarter Strasse,
- Dumfries Place, and
- Newport Road, up to the West Grove junction.
The Kingsway Public Realm Improvements focus on the upper Kingsway area, which includes:
- Kingsway, between Boulevard De Nanes and Greyfriars Road
You can watch the video to find out more about the proposals.
Where the changes are
Kingsway is in central Cardiff, linking the city centre and the civic centre. Nearby places include:
- Friary Gardens,
- Greyfriars Road, and
- the area around Boulevard De Nantes and the dock feeder.
Please note, although this engagement focuses on Kingsway, some related work is expected as part of the wider corridor scheme. This includes areas just north and south of the current subway, where the ramps and steps will be removed and the area levelled and finished to match the new layout.
What we are proposing
The proposals aim to improve routes between the city centre and the civic centre, and make Kingsway:
- safer,
- greener, and
- more welcoming.
Key changes include:
- Remove the Boulevard De Nantes subway, including the ramps and steps.
- Provide a new street-level pedestrian and cycle crossing on Boulevard De Nantes.Close the upper section of Kingsway to motor vehicles (access only for servicing or agreed special uses, such as small events).
- Improve the area between Boulevard De Nantes and Greyfriars Road to create a new public space.
- Add trees, planting, seating and green space, including sustainable drainage features and cycle parkingRelocate the 2nd Marquis of Bute statue from Callaghan Square to a central position, and move the Nereid Statue to a more accessible green space.
- Improve lighting and visibility to make sure the space is well lit, helping people move around safely and comfortably.
- Create flexible shared space that can support small events, markets and social activity.
- Provide a pedestrian link through Friary Gardens between North Road and Kingsway, with new accessible ramps and surface materialMaintain cycle access, primarily for reaching cycle parking, rather than encouraging high-speed cycling through the space.
You can find more information about what we are proposing in the Kingsway Public Realm Improvements engagement pack (PDF, 3 MB).
You can also view:
- an accessible text-only version of the engagement pack (PDF, 213 KB),
- a large print version of the engagement pack (PDF, 216 KB), and
- a simplified version of the engagement pack (PDF, 348 KB).
Why we are doing this
The corridor and cycleway need changes around Boulevard De Nantes, including removing the subway. This gives us an opportunity to:
- Improve accessibility and safety for people that are walking and cycling
- Reduce the priority and presence of traffic in Kingsway
- Provide better connections between key destinations in the city centre and civic area
- Refresh a space that is difficult to move around and remove a barrier between two areas
- Provides a space that celebrates the history of the area whilst providing wellbeing benefits
Have your say
We are currently asking for feedback on all parts of the proposal and would like to hear your views.
You can tell us your views on the proposals by completing the survey.
The survey closes on 5 July 2026.
