The final phase of the tram utility diversion work is to commence in Edinburgh city centre at the Haymarket Interchange starting in July. The work will take place in five distinct stages ending in February 2009. The first three of the stages will be completed by early November.
Associated enabling work starts on 16th June and this will see the introduction of temporary pedestrian crossings at key locations so as to ensure the continued safety and uninhibited flow of the walking public. The free flow of traffic throughout the work has also been considered with important temporary traffic management solutions being put in place.
Willie Gallagher, Executive Chairman of tie, said: “Haymarket is a critical location for the Edinburgh Tram Project and we are mindful of its importance to the City. As such, we will ensure that any impact associated with these works is lessened by good planning and robust traffic management. Work has already commenced on the Haymarket Station car park site and this will now branch out to on street works. With any of our works that have involved significant temporary traffic management diversions the assurance that the public need to hear is that we work with our partners – the City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian Buses and the emergency services. As in these other locations, we will provide for the optimum flow of traffic for both public and private. Our work with local community groups has now started and it’s important that we agree solutions to issues including access and service delivery and collection arrangements as part and parcel of these works. We recognise that Edinburgh wants this work done quickly and safely. Our proposed methodology, alongside the traffic management measures, is the best way to achieve this.”
The five stages of the work are as follows:
* Stage 1 – Haymarket Station, Dalry Road and Torphicen Street
* Stage 2 – Haymarket Station, Dalry completion and Manor Place junction
* Stage 3 – Haymarket Station and Manor Place junction
* Stage 4 – Station completion and Palmerston Place junction
* Stage 5 – West Maitland Street
Cllr Phil Wheeler, Transport Convener on the City of Edinburgh Council, added: “Each phase of the utility diversion programme has been well managed to ensure that traffic continues to flow in the city while tram work goes on and I am sure this stage will be no different. Edinburgh remains very much open for business while work goes on and every effort is being taken to ensure that access to businesses for customers, services and deliveries is retained. We are also running a marketing campaign on the wealth of reasons to visit the city centre and we will continue to work with businesses on creative ways to ensure visitors and shoppers continue to come into town while work is going on.”
Driving organisations say that the streets of Edinburgh will have extra strain because of this tram work on top of the Festival traffic. Bruce Young, Lothian and Borders co-ordinator of the Association of British Drivers, commented: “This Haymarket section will be nowhere near as clear cut as Shandwick Place, it is a very heavily-used junction. This is probably the biggest opportunity they will have to get things wrong I fear, and I am appalled they will be working through the Festival when the city really does struggle to cope with the extra traffic."
However, a positive comment came from a Liberal Democrat city centre councillor, Cllr Charles Dundas: “think most people will agree that the diversions around Shandwick Place have caused a lot less disruption than we anticipated. On the basis of this and the work that has been done at the bottom of Lothian Road, then I think we can be cautiously optimistic that it will run as smoothly as these things can."
Source: Trams for Edinburgh & The Scotsman