Commuters face more chaos as latest tram works begin

Published on Monday 31 March 2008 10:18

COMMUTERS faced more roadworks in the city today as the latest stage of tram related closures got under way.

Drivers found Constitution Street (pictured above) closed this morning and bus passengers arrived at their stops to find a "confusing" set of diversions had been implemented.

Traffic leading up to the foot of Leith Walk has already been severely disrupted in recent months due to roadworks.

This morning, traffic snaked down the routes, heavily bordered by cones, to be faced with further diversions down Duke Street or into Great Junction Street.

Traffic entering the diversion zone from the east was tailing back the length of Duke Street, but other traffic appeared relatively light.

Commuter Andrzej Benczes, 26, a call centre worker, was trying to make sense of the new bus routes this morning.

He said: "I don't really understand it, it shows on their map that there are various temporary bus stops in place but it doesn't really tally with what you can see on the street."

A Lothian Buses employee was on site at the foot of the Walk to help commuters, but even he was having trouble making sense of the new diversions.

A sign on the bus stop said the main diversions were not due to take place until Wednesday but the employee was unable to say what form these new diversions would take.

Local traders have already been reporting a downturn in trade because of the massive road works on Leith Walk and some have now been forced out of the area.

Dave Conquer, 44, proprietor of Premier Windscreens on Constitution Street said: "This closure is really going to affect us. We rely heavily on passing trade and during bad weather cars have to brought into the shop to be fixed. However, our drivers said that they didn't know where to go this morning. It was bad enough telling customers where to go at the best of times but now when you have to factor in the diversions it will be a nightmare.

"Time will tell in the next six months how bad it will be, but one of our neighbouring traders has already upped sticks and moved away because he said the trams would damage them so much."

One foot of the Walk newsagent who did not wish to be named said: "I reckon we're losing about 80 customers a day because of the roadworks and these latest closures can only make it worse."

Tram works have already caused extensive diversion to be put in place in the city, the most significant so far being the closure of Shandwick Place. But despite forecasts of upheaval, the work has gone relatively smoothly.

Constitution Street will be closed in sections to minimise inconvenience. It is expected to reopen later this year but in the longer term the plan is for it only to be used by trams and buses.