The Edinburgh Evening News have recently run a story with quotes from an \u201canonymous\u201d Council source who has claimed that the quality of work on the Trams to Newhaven project is appalling, that it will be delivered months behind schedule and that experienced Council staff have been kept away from the project.<\/p>\n
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The source has claimed that there are already over 200 defects noted on the work \u2013 including badly cracked concrete, drains blocked by concrete and collapsed manholes \u2013 and that this likely to work with a lot of snagging work required to make things right before trams can start to run on the extension from York Place to Newhaven.<\/p>\n
The source is quoted in the article as follows: \u201cHow can other cities get this done right, while Edinburgh keeps on making the same mistakes? The Manchester network has been extended many times, with the quality of the work being fit for a city that\u2019s really going places. Birmingham is currently extending its line, and again the work looks amazing. But take a look at what\u2019s happening on Leith Walk; the completed parts of the route look terrible. Even the basics are not right \u2013 like laying paving slabs properly. Surely this can\u2019t be fit for a major European capital city, and one which is a showcase for Scotland. Edinburgh welcomes the highest number of tourists in the UK outside London; is this really how we want them to see our city?”<\/p>\n
They are also quoted as saying the line should have been opening at Easter 2023 but this will be delayed by several months because of issues with the project and that only three members of staff from the Council have been allowed to be involved at any stage of the work.<\/p>\n
In response to these claims from the source, Cllr Scott Arthur, Transport Convener, said: \u201cI have been assured the Trams to Newhaven project remains within budget and on schedule to begin passenger services in spring 2023, despite a 13-week shutdown during the Covid pandemic and more recent changes to the programme due to global supply chain problems. All utility diversions are complete and the contractor has laid almost 4,300 metres of track slab, 93 per cent of the total. This is an amazing achievement.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs is the case with any construction project, snagging and defect works are part of the process, and I understand the project team is currently developing a detailed programme for contractors to complete before construction work is signed off, and ahead of maintenance falling to the council.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of the project\u2019s management, there is a robust governance process in place including All Party Oversight Group, Project Board and Project Finance Board, an independent adviser to the board to provide additional scrutiny and an ongoing internal audit process to ensure compliance with governance. In addition, engineers from all relevant parts of the council are heavily involved in delivering this project through the Technical Working Group.\u201d<\/p>\n
The last official statement from the project also admitted to some delays but still expects main construction works to be completed by the end of 2022 with testing and commissioning starting in early 2023. At no point has a date of Easter 2023 ever been officially mentioned for the start of services with a generic Spring 2023 mentioned instead \u2013 this gives until June for an opening to still be on target.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Edinburgh Evening News have recently run a story with quotes from an \u201canonymous\u201d Council source who has claimed that the quality of work on the Trams to Newhaven project is appalling, that it will be delivered months behind schedule … Continue reading