Leith Walk faces closure both ways to speed up tram works

THE next stage of the tram roadworks is likely to see Leith Walk completely closed to traffic in sections in a bid to speed up the works.

The temporary move – which would affect short sections of the busy road between junctions – has been put forward as a way of speeding up the track laying and overhead wires part of the £512 million project. That work is scheduled to get under way later this year.

Willie Gallagher, chairman of tram firm TIE, has asked his officials to assess the feasibility of diverting traffic on to Easter Road in an effort to minimise disruption to traders and residents. A similar tactic was used on Shandwick Place where a five-month total closure was put in place instead of a one-year partial closure.

Traders today gave the proposals a cautious welcome, adding "cast-iron guarantees" would to be needed that the work would be completed on time.

Gordon Burgess, chairman of the Leith Walk and Constitution Street Traders Association, said: "This is an idea worth considering but we would need really strong assurances that work would start and stop when they say it will, and that the gains they can make are worthwhile.

"People just want this over and done with but it needs to be managed properly."

A section of Leith Walk was earlier this month made one-way to allow engineers to divert utility services that cross the road rather than run along its length.

The two-week project saw all northbound vehicles diverted on to Easter Road.

It is thought traffic would be diverted on to Easter Road again if a partial closure programme for Leith Walk was adopted.

Nigel Duncan, vice-chairman of Edinburgh's Federation of Small Businesses, said: "We would give this a cautious welcome but would need cast-iron guarantees that it would be finished when they promise it will be."

The track and wires phase of the tram scheme will see work concentrated down the middle sections of Leith Walk, leaving the pavements clear.

Mr Gallaghersaid: "We are always keen to, where possible, get in and out of a site as quickly as possible.

"We don't have the information to hand on the precise productivity gains this idea for Leith Walk would bring, or indeed if it is practical. You wouldn't have the whole of Leith Walk from Elm Row all the way down to the bottom closed, but there may be certain sections where we can get in and get the work done quicker if there is uninterrupted access."

• CITY leaders have given tram firm TIE permission to carry out work at two city centre sites during the Festival embargo.

The work is scheduled to take place at St Paul's Church on York Place and in front of the steps to St Mary's Cathedral, just off the Picardy Place roundabout.

The eight-week project will involve no interruptions for either traffic or pedestrians.