The £57 million road, completed by Dawnus Ferrovial Agroman JV on time and within budget, will provide a major boost to both Cardiff city centre and the Bay.
After a successful completion of the Eastern Bay Link (EBL) project, the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones officially opened the new link road in Cardiff on 15 June. The dual carriageway, which is named after the late engineer and planner, Ewart Parkinson, will improve links to Cardiff Bay, reducing journey times and helping to ease congestion in the city centre. Ffordd Ewart Parkinson will also boost the local economy by improving access to the Central Cardiff Enterprise Zone and enhancing connectivity across the wider city region. The road provided 13 apprenticeships, two work experience placements and jobs for nine graduates and 27 people who were previously long-term unemployed.
Enrique Nieto, Director of Highways Ireland, UK and Slovakia, said:
“The EBL is a complex infrastructure that will become one of Cardiff’s main assets. Congratulations to the team for having been able to finish this project on time and within budget. This demonstrates Ferrovial Agroman’s commitment to excellence, technical development and safety. Well done to everyone.”The delivery of the project did not come without several challenges. As Andres Cabrera, Project Manager, states:
“The team has had to overcome more than one difficulty, such as working next to live traffic at both Queen’s Gate and Ocean Way roundabouts; working at height; dealing with poor ground conditions and facing site restraints due to the immediately adjacent live railway and working dock roads, among many others. I am proud of the team, which has demonstrated total commitment to successfully overcoming these challenges.”For his part, the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones commented:
"I am delighted to officially open Ffordd Ewart Parkinson, which will provide a major boost to both Cardiff city centre and the Bay. Commuters will benefit from a shorter route and reduced journey times, while local residents will see reduced traffic and reduced disruption in their neighbourhood.”The Eastern Bay Link was finalised after over 400,000 man hours worked without any reportable Safety or Environmental incidents. Furthermore, the project delivered on its commitment to respecting the environment, as piling platforms were constructed using recycled slag from local steelworks; and 75% of bored piling arising’s (400m3) were reused as landscaping fill, to give just a few examples.
