New trams 'cock-up' may close Princes Street again

Published on Saturday 25 September 2010 08:14

PRINCES Street could be dug up again after more defects were discovered in the laying of tram tracks.

Engineers commissioned by contractors for the multi- million pound project are studying fractures that have emerged under the road surface to discover whether foundations supporting the tracks will need to be replaced, it was reported today.

If this proves to be the case, repair work is expected to shut the Capital's busiest shopping street again, heaping further misery on traders who last year suffered a ten-month closure.

The problems have led to a frank exchange between TIE, the council-owned company overseeing the project, and the BSC consortium led by construction giant Bilfinger Berger responsible for the work.

TIE has reportedly demanded the removal of key personnel responsible for the mistakes.

Engineers have already had to return three times to repair cracks on Princes Street.

TIE was accused of carrying out a "rush job" when within weeks of the street reopening last year, holes began appearing in the surface of the road.

The new cracks detected in the road infrastructure supporting the tram lines are suspected to have been caused by the wrong material being used by Bilfinger engineers. The contractor is apparently examining the fissures to determine what level of repairs will be required - and whether the road will have to be dug up again.

TIE reportedly issued a "remedial termination notice" to BSC on August 9 demanding that faults are corrected and engineering superintendence staff replaced to avoid the contract being terminated.

It is also reported that TIE have insisted a senior member of staff employed by Bilfinger is dismissed for incompetence.

Both claims, it is understood, have been rejected as "unenforceable" by Bilfinger. Bilfinger has claimed it was forced to undertake the work despite warning TIE poor weather conditions would lead to problems.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Lothians MSP, said: "It sounds like a major cock-up which, if true, would be disastrous for the project and cause serious problems for the people of Edinburgh who have already put up with prolonged disruption to such a major throughfare.

"There's always been faults on both sides of this dispute but, if we find out the contractors are to blame for such a serious mistake, they will have a lot to answer for."

An Edinburgh Trams spokesman said: "Our concerns regarding this matter have been brought to the attention of the consortium and to comment further would be inappropriate as we we will not discuss matters of a contractual nature through the media."