George Street works driven forward after safety fears
The night shift on George Street
MAJOR road repairs in George Street have been brought forward because the condition of the surfaces were so poor that it had become a safety risk.
Resurfacing work will run throughout the night for the next three weeks as part of a £350,000 project to repair the badly potholed road.
Traders and taxi drivers said the timing was unfortunate – with Princes Street also closed – but welcomed the much- needed investment.
Work began on Monday and is expected to run from 7pm until 7am until mid-March. Sections of George Street will be partly closed off with one carriageway remaining open throughout the works.
Josh Miller, chairman of the George Street Association and joint managing director of Charlie Miller hairdressing, said the condition of the surfaces had rapidly deteriorated since buses were re-routed from Princes Street.
He said: “George Street has suffered so much since the buses were re-routed and I was told by the council engineers that it had become a safety issue.
“The timing is a disappointment, because works on both streets has an impact on the city centre, but we welcome the fact it’s being done and the approach to carry out the works at night.”
Last week, Charlotte Square to Frederick Street westbound was resurfaced, with work on Hanover Street to Frederick Street westbound starting this week.
The week after, it is expected that Charlotte Square to Frederick Street eastbound will be cordoned off, with final works taking place between Frederick Street and Hanover Street eastbound.
Cab drivers said the move has caused significant diversions but agreed that the state of the street had become a major issue.
Raymond Davidson, secretary of the Edinburgh Taxi Association, said: “It is unfortunate that we’ll see month-long diversions but I see any resurfacing as good news.
“From our point of view it takes its toll on the suspension and tyres, but it also doesn’t look good for the city.
“In America and Europe the roads are very smooth but here they are terrible. Hopefully we’ll see this rolled out to Leith Walk as well, which also needs a huge amount of work.”
Murray Fleming, company secretary of Central Taxis, added: “We welcome the attempts to minimise the disruption but when you divert all these buses it closes off the city centre altogether. There are still a lot of people heading into the city at 7pm, and I took an extra five or ten minutes to circumvent it last night, but I realise we have no choice.”
Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city’s transport convenor, said George Street had been closely monitored in recent months.
He said: “These works are part of a major investment in Edinburgh’s roads over the last four years.”
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Comments
There are 18 comments to this article
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freeesian
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 12:02 PM#13, Not many toffs.... Plenty Poles though. Mind you, that is the only poles the're likely to see down Leith Walk.
mystery
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 10:36 AMCouncilor Gordon Mackenzie, the city’s transport convener, said George Street had been closely monitored in recent months. He said: “These works are part of a major investment in Edinburgh’s roads over the last four years.” major investment in Edinburgh’s roads!!!!! where? George street. Constitution street. the huge bump outside the old quad. northsouth st Davids street. I could honestly mention street after street, so Mr Gordon Mackenzie if you want help in naming streets needing done leave me a phone number and i will give you a ONE HOUR call (not sure if that's long enough).
Zuerich
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 10:05 AMBit of an awful photo on the article. Modern cameras (D700D3) can handle low light better than that at high ISO with low interference. How about something better composed, in focus, and with a faster exposure, EN?
Jools in Edinburgh
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 12:03 AMjudgedredd, some of your comments seem to make very little sense.....(1) If the council had run out of money to do anything how can they be doing this? (2) No, the fact that this is being classed as a safety does not mean the the City of Edinburgh as a whole is a safety risk. (3) You complain that this is being done at night at extra cost....well mate, i'd like you to come up with a better alternatvie suggestion......and as for asking why the trams are not being done at night, probably because this would add hundreds of millions to the bill....as opposed to this which is going to cost a lot less to do at night.
rabmccall
Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 01:20 PM#10 dear o dear the Poles get blamed for every thing
jingsmaboab
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 06:55 PMIt's pretty sensible to resurface George Street, it certainly needs it. If they're concerned about safety they could remove all the parking places: cars stopping in the middle of the road to nab a space or cutting out from a space into the traffic is a right hazard! It's a pity nothing has been done about Leith Walk, it is in a shocking state! Not many boutiques for toffs down that street though, nor indeed any council owned Fringe venues or fancy hotels: so therefore not a priority for this council. I'm not holding my breath waiting for it to happen!
judgedredd777
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 05:22 PM"MAJOR road repairs in George Street have been brought forward because the condition of the surfaces were so poor that it had become a safety risk" reports the Evening News. Does this mean that the council are admitting that the City of Edinburgh is a "Safety Risk" to road users and pedestrians due to their lack of "Duty of Care". then to compound the missery on their so called small budgets they do these works under the cover of darkness which increases the costs of the works by an additional sixty five percent. If its so important to work at night then the Tram contract should be carried out during the same period if not twenty four hours per day. This is the city management at its worst and the contractors milking the sacred cow, and how they the city turn a blind eye to the overcharging. I just hope that they are using the correct materials and not SMA or City Pave as the buses will rip it up within a matter of years.
edinburgh.reporter
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 04:10 PMThe councillors only found out about the George Street potholes when they went down with their big wedges to the Hamilton & Inches sale.
tanaquil
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 03:21 PMIf we hadn't had to have the trams, every street in the city could have been resurfaced, and every pavement that needs it could have been upgraded. Hanover Street is a disgrace. Meanwhile, poles are going up along Princes Street, spoiling the view of the castle for the rest of our lives.
judgedredd777
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 03:18 PM#1 & #2 keyser soze ..........Mackenzie and the City of Edinburgh administration have run out of money to do anything, that is why the electorate will run them out of town at the May election. Cheerio, Cheerio, Cheerio and take the mismanagement with you when you shut the door on this sad chapter of a once vibrant city.
Aristotle
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 02:50 PMWho would have thought of thought of it - heavy traffic on a road not designed for it causes damage to the road surface - clearly not that epitome of ineptitude Councillor MacKenzie. This man really is an embarrasment to Edinburgh.
AULD REEKY
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 02:47 PMNot long now until the May Elections - then we can get rid of this totally incompetent City Council - Bye Bye Jenny, Bye Bye Stevie (No Balls), and Bye Bye Gordon Mckenzie and ALL the other "clowncillors" - it would be better electing the three "wise monkeys" than the current lot of "half wits" !!!!!!
oTo
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 02:17 PMResign NOW MacKenzie and let somebody who is actually vaguely competent take over. This has been an issue for YEARS. Leith Walk should have been put back to a reasonable condition nearly 3 years ago. Staggering ineptitude!
Huntley & Palmist, The Biscuit Mystic
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 01:40 PMRe your opening sentence: the condition were poor, were it? Dear, dear.
nickedinburgh
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 12:56 PMSlyfifer, such ridiculous exaggeration in an effort to whinge more loudly just makes you sound an utter numptie. Roads need repaired from time to time. Budgets are limited. If you think you can do better, stand for election. Otherwise get a life.
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