As previously announced before Christmas it has been agreed that Princes Street will be shut to all traffic for eight months from February with a short break for the annual International Festival in August. The Edinburgh Tram Project have now revealed further details of this including the full timetable of the works.
Work will commence on Princes Street on Saturday 21st February and will see the start of the laying the rails for the first section of the tram network for the Scottish capital. No traffic will be allowed on Princes Street throughout the work, which is expected to last until November 2009 (with the aforementioned August break for the Festival).
Temporary traffic measures are to be put in place to ensure there is a minimum amount of disruption to all traffic throughout the closure. These measures have been drawn up between the Edinburgh Tram Project, the City of Edinburgh Council, tie Limited and Lothian Buses.
The work will take place on the entire width of Princes Street between South Charlotte Street and South St David Street (both of these roads will remain open). The pedestrian footpath on the garden side of Princes Street will be closed although the footpath on the other side will remain open and access will be maintained through the gardens.
In week one of the work, a westbound lane within the worksite will be kept clear and tie are to monitor traffic movement around the city centre. Once tie (and local authorities) are satisfied that traffic is flowing, work will commence on this lane.
During the works, buses, taxis and cycles are to diverted via George Street whilst general traffic is to be diverted along Queen Street. Emergency diversions have also been put in place should the need arise.
The work is to be supported by the Edinburgh Tram Project’s largest and most sophisticated logistics initiative yet with around 400 businesses likely to benefit.
David Mackay, Chairman of tie Limited, said: “Princes Street is Scotland’s most iconic thoroughfare and we understand that the eyes of the country and beyond will be on us as we construct the infrastructure for Edinburgh’s trams. The work being announced today is also a pivotal moment for the project and will see the first tangible aspects of the Edinburgh Trams appearing in the Capital. The track laying and its accompanying traffic diversions have been planned meticulously with tie’s partners and contractors with speed and safety paramount. tie has, as ever, considered the views and needs of retailers and businesses into our planning and we are confident that this plan is the best solution for all. tie will continue to work with the business community in this part of Edinburgh to ensure that practical issues including access and service are resolved and that Edinburgh remains open for business as the work continues.”
Cllr Phil Wheeler, Transport Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, added: “This is a pivotal stage in the trams project and I am confident that following extensive traffic modelling we can keep the traffic in Edinburgh moving. “People travelling around Edinburgh by foot and all other means of transport will be kept well informed through a multi-media advertising campaign about parking, bus routes and other useful information. It will also include other tips about how to carry on shopping around the tram works. It is crucial to Edinburgh and its business community that we get the message across that during this time the shops in Edinburgh will still be open.”
Source: Edinburgh Tram Project