The Trams to Newhaven project may be starting its long Christmas and New Year shutdown (there will be no work taking place between 1700 on 22nd December and 0700 on 10th January 2022) but ahead of that starting there have been more developments in the construction of the extension to the Edinburgh Trams system. In this article we visit Ocean Terminal, Constitution Street and at The Shore tramstop. John Hampton is the photographer.
The latest newsletter from the project released in mid-December gave some highlights of what has been achieved during 2021:
Newhaven to Melrose Drive
• Retaining wall works substantially complete to enable the tram to link from Lindsay Road to Melrose Drive.
• Construction of new substation completed at Melrose Drive.
Ocean Terminal to Rennie’s Isle
• Crossover installed at Ocean Terminal with works progressing to connect the curved rail on Ocean Drive at Waterfront Plaza.
• Main works for Ocean Terminal tram stop substantially complete.
• Reinforcement/structural works to the Victoria Dock Bridge complete which recently saw partial reopening to pedestrians on the west side of the bridge.
Constitution Street
• Track installation complete from Tower Street to Baltic Street with section opened to traffic.
• Completed track installation across Bernard / Baltic Street junction with The Shore tram stop works in progress.
• Rebuild of Constitution Street wall substantially complete. All memorials were carefully reinstalled on the graveside wall.
Leith Walk
• Utility clearance completed between London Road and Crown Place and main infrastructure works commenced.
• Completed complex diversion of 500mm diameter gas main at Jane Street.
• Track works commenced across the historic Network Rail Bridge north of McDonald Road.
• Installation of segregated cycle lane progressed on the west side.
• Completed track installation across key junctions at Annandale Street and McDonald Road.
• Main works for McDonald Road tram stop complete.
• Main works completed on west side from McDonald Road to Montgomery Street enabling the commencement of landscaping and surfacing works required on the east side of Leith Walk.
• Attenuation pipes installed at three locations.
London Road to Picardy Place
• Following site establishment from London Road to Picardy Place in October, all utility clearance in this section completed to enable main infrastructure works to commence.
And from January 2022 there will be more works starting, including phase two of the worksite from London Road to York Place (closest to the current line). There are also due to be works starting from Coatfield Lane to Queen Charlotte Street, from Rennie’s Isle to Tower Place and along Melrose Drive south from Ocean Terminal. That’s on top of current worksites getting back up and running.
With the extension due to open during 2023, the next 12 months should see plenty of activity along the length of the route.
Much of the track along Ocean Drive between Rennie’s Isle and Ocean Terminal is now in place including that across the recently strengthened Victoria Dock bridge. The photo is taken from the bridge looking towards the Ocean Terminal shopping centre.
The Shore tramstop is under construction, with one side almost completed.
The work along Constitution Street between Ocean Drive and Baltic Street is almost complete and most of the road is open to normal traffic. The domed building with the cupola at the end of the street is the former Leith Corn Exchange. (All Photographs by John Hampton)