Transport planning and highway advice for University Hospital Wales, Cardiff

Challenge

We were retained by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CVUHB) to provide transport planning and highway advice relating to the University Hospital of Wales site in Cardiff.

This is a busy site. It has numerous entrances operating 24 hours a day to serve patients, staff, emergency services and public transport providers. It also has numerous public car parks, generally at capacity. The consequence is congestion within the Gateway causing the hospital to grid lock at certain times of the day.

Solution

We developed a comprehensive movement strategy for the University Hospital Wales, Cardiff to improve traffic flow, circulation and car park egress.

Given its location near the strategic highway network, the hospital has become an attractive route for rat running traffic which accounts for more than 7000 vehicles per day, about half of the total movements within the site.

Impact

We devised a series of ANPR surveys to identify trends and develop options to restrict rat running traffic including physical measures such as closing links and access points. Working closely with the Director of Estates and the local highway authority, we balanced the strategy against all users with proposals for improved pedestrian linkages and car park control / egress. Our proposals have been implemented and ‘rat running’ traffic levels have reduced.