Hypercelt

Jul 8, 08 - 7:07 PM

Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals

Got this off a news site:

A series of public meetings on proposals to improve access to Cardiff Airport begin next week.

Improving the road links to the airport is seen as vital to its future and also to the economy of the surrounding area. The public consultation by the Welsh Assembly Government will highlight the three options for improving access to the airport

As well as road improvements, boosting public transport is a key part of the strategy, which includes reducing congestion at Culverhouse Cross and the road network around Cardiff.

The three options are:

Using the existing signposted route to the airport with widening to three lanes on the A4232 from M4 Junction 33 to a western bypass at Culverhouse Cross to reduce congestion.

Investigating options for route improvements using the A4232 from M4 Junction 33 and the A48 with an improved Sycamore Cross junction and improvements to the Five Mile Lane. A key choice will be bypass options at St Nicholas.

An option for routes from the M4 Junction 34 to the airport with a bypass at Pendoylan, junction improvements at Sycamore Cross junction and improvements to Five Mile Lane.

Public exhibitions providing further information on the possible improvements are to be held at the following locations;

Wenvoe Community Centre, Wenvoe: Wednesday July 9 - 10:00 - 19:00
Pendoylan Memorial Hall, Pendoylan: Thursday July 10 - 10:00 - 19:00
Bonvilston Reading Room, Bonvilston: Friday July 11 - 10:00 - 20:00
Highlight Park Community Centre, Stirling Road, Barry: Saturday July 12 - 10:00 - 17:00

For more information visit: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/news/ciaaccess?lang=en

Zach

Jul 9th, 2008 - 3:44 PM

Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals

I don't understand, Cardiff Airport doesn't generate that much car traffic. It's not if it hugely bunched either.
One flight every 15-30 mins.
160 seats / 80% occupancy = say 130 people, average of two people per car = 65 cars. (some will use train / bus)
Does this need three lanes? Could do with three lanes for Barry/Cardiff commuters.
I have driven there many times and to my surprise most of the cars are not going to the airport but to Llantwit.
Save the money and spend it on barrage (a new road on top over to BRS!)

Cardiff Ian

Jul 9th, 2008 - 3:50 PM

Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals

Surely a new access road would encourage people to use the airport rather than travel to Bristol which will bring more money into the local economy? I can't see the double whammy of a new road and increased flights going down well with the environmentalists though.

James

Jul 9th, 2008 - 4:21 PM

Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals

Cardiff has more flights than that Zach.

A quick check on the website now shows that as of 16.17 on Wed 9th July there are still 40 arrivals and departures until midnight, and we are still not at peak summer period. There will be an arrival or departure every ten minutes in the summer, so it's easy to see how traffic can accumulate, especially at peak times.

Personally, i think there is a very strong case for making the 'wenvoe road' a dual carriageway. CWL also needs to work with Cardiff Bus more to get a better bus service. We are way behind Bristol in that regard. yes, I know we have an okay bus service, and the train service is okay, but it all needs improving if the airport is going to have a fighting chance.

Zach

Jul 9th, 2008 - 4:55 PM

Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals

Just looked on the web site and yes there are 16 departures and 19 arrivals from the rest of the day.
The Dublin Aer Arrann and the Ynys Mon flights and even the KLM city hoppers flights are not going to stress the roads too much given the size of these planes.

Are we building roads just for the 6 week summer holidays?

Better to spend this valuable money on the Cardiff Port Access road to the M4. I would bet any money the volumes are many orders of magnitude greater on that road than the airport road. Don't get me wrong I would love an new airport road but which needs it most the port or airport.?

Spence

Jul 9th, 2008 - 10:06 PM

Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals

I think they're going on the basis that the new road will encourage growth and be ready made to cope with years of future expansion. The current number of flights doesn't warrant the road but if we are to demand growth and routes to Europe, the Middle East and North America we have to have a transport infrastructure not only capable of supporting the volume of traffic but of doing so efficintly and making a lasting impression on potential airlines and passengers. Otherwise we will forever be playing second fiddle to Bristol, Birmingham and the London airports.

With regard to the bus servive, I think Cardiff Bus made cutbacks when the train was introduced. Personally I'd like to see the train frequencies upped to at least 3 an hour at some point and prefferably with a slightly faster, luggage frindly train.

Jeremy

Jul 10th, 2008 - 8:14 PM

Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals

The arguement for a new road really depends on whether there will be growth at the airport. In the short term this seems unlikely as the boom in cut price travel has been dependent on filling the planes with passengers and fueling them with cheap fuel (remember there is no tax on aviation fuel). The cheap fuel has now evaporated.

If the fuel supply problem is short lived then the price will drop. If Israel bombs Iran no planes will be flying as the price will sky rocket.

So any investment decision depends on how you view the price of fuel over the next 10-20 years.

Even if the price of fuel skyrockets I would still assume that transatlantic flights will continue as it is more fuel efficient than liners crossing the Atlantic. Would airlines then use Cardiff to save 200-300 miles of flying compared to flights to Heathrow?

A bit extreme, yes. But what do you think the long term future of aviation will be?

Author	Comment
Hypercelt Jul 8, 08 - 7:07 PM	Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals Got this off a news site: A series of public meetings on proposals to improve access to Cardiff Airport begin next week. Improving the road links to the airport is seen as vital to its future and also to the economy of the surrounding area. The public consultation by the Welsh Assembly Government will highlight the three options for improving access to the airport As well as road improvements, boosting public transport is a key part of the strategy, which includes reducing congestion at Culverhouse Cross and the road network around Cardiff. The three options are: Using the existing signposted route to the airport with widening to three lanes on the A4232 from M4 Junction 33 to a western bypass at Culverhouse Cross to reduce congestion. Investigating options for route improvements using the A4232 from M4 Junction 33 and the A48 with an improved Sycamore Cross junction and improvements to the Five Mile Lane. A key choice will be bypass options at St Nicholas. An option for routes from the M4 Junction 34 to the airport with a bypass at Pendoylan, junction improvements at Sycamore Cross junction and improvements to Five Mile Lane. Public exhibitions providing further information on the possible improvements are to be held at the following locations; Wenvoe Community Centre, Wenvoe: Wednesday July 9 - 10:00 - 19:00 Pendoylan Memorial Hall, Pendoylan: Thursday July 10 - 10:00 - 19:00 Bonvilston Reading Room, Bonvilston: Friday July 11 - 10:00 - 20:00 Highlight Park Community Centre, Stirling Road, Barry: Saturday July 12 - 10:00 - 17:00 For more information visit: http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/transport/news/ciaaccess?lang=en
Zach Jul 9th, 2008 - 3:44 PM	Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals I don't understand, Cardiff Airport doesn't generate that much car traffic. It's not if it hugely bunched either. One flight every 15-30 mins. 160 seats / 80% occupancy = say 130 people, average of two people per car = 65 cars. (some will use train / bus) Does this need three lanes? Could do with three lanes for Barry/Cardiff commuters. I have driven there many times and to my surprise most of the cars are not going to the airport but to Llantwit. Save the money and spend it on barrage (a new road on top over to BRS!)
Cardiff Ian Jul 9th, 2008 - 3:50 PM	Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals Surely a new access road would encourage people to use the airport rather than travel to Bristol which will bring more money into the local economy? I can't see the double whammy of a new road and increased flights going down well with the environmentalists though.
James Jul 9th, 2008 - 4:21 PM	Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals Cardiff has more flights than that Zach. A quick check on the website now shows that as of 16.17 on Wed 9th July there are still 40 arrivals and departures until midnight, and we are still not at peak summer period. There will be an arrival or departure every ten minutes in the summer, so it's easy to see how traffic can accumulate, especially at peak times. Personally, i think there is a very strong case for making the 'wenvoe road' a dual carriageway. CWL also needs to work with Cardiff Bus more to get a better bus service. We are way behind Bristol in that regard. yes, I know we have an okay bus service, and the train service is okay, but it all needs improving if the airport is going to have a fighting chance. Email: jat_moore@yahoo.co.uk
Zach Jul 9th, 2008 - 4:55 PM	Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals Just looked on the web site and yes there are 16 departures and 19 arrivals from the rest of the day. The Dublin Aer Arrann and the Ynys Mon flights and even the KLM city hoppers flights are not going to stress the roads too much given the size of these planes. Are we building roads just for the 6 week summer holidays? Better to spend this valuable money on the Cardiff Port Access road to the M4. I would bet any money the volumes are many orders of magnitude greater on that road than the airport road. Don't get me wrong I would love an new airport road but which needs it most the port or airport.?
Spence Jul 9th, 2008 - 10:06 PM	Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals I think they're going on the basis that the new road will encourage growth and be ready made to cope with years of future expansion. The current number of flights doesn't warrant the road but if we are to demand growth and routes to Europe, the Middle East and North America we have to have a transport infrastructure not only capable of supporting the volume of traffic but of doing so efficintly and making a lasting impression on potential airlines and passengers. Otherwise we will forever be playing second fiddle to Bristol, Birmingham and the London airports. With regard to the bus servive, I think Cardiff Bus made cutbacks when the train was introduced. Personally I'd like to see the train frequencies upped to at least 3 an hour at some point and prefferably with a slightly faster, luggage frindly train.
Jeremy Jul 10th, 2008 - 8:14 PM	Re: Public meetings on Cardiff Airport Access Proposals The arguement for a new road really depends on whether there will be growth at the airport. In the short term this seems unlikely as the boom in cut price travel has been dependent on filling the planes with passengers and fueling them with cheap fuel (remember there is no tax on aviation fuel). The cheap fuel has now evaporated. If the fuel supply problem is short lived then the price will drop. If Israel bombs Iran no planes will be flying as the price will sky rocket. So any investment decision depends on how you view the price of fuel over the next 10-20 years. Even if the price of fuel skyrockets I would still assume that transatlantic flights will continue as it is more fuel efficient than liners crossing the Atlantic. Would airlines then use Cardiff to save 200-300 miles of flying compared to flights to Heathrow? A bit extreme, yes. But what do you think the long term future of aviation will be?