Misery for drivers as roads ripped up

MOTORISTS and bus passengers have been warned to expect delays in the city centre as work begins to repair 
damaged streets torn up by tram diversions.

Contractors will begin work on two stretches of road off St Andrew Square on Monday, followed by a third site at the east end of George Street.

Transport chiefs admitted North and South St David Street had been left in a “poor condition” and will have to be resurfaced. The work will take three weeks.

The roads will remain open to traffic in both directions, but work on the third site will see the St Andrew Square/George Street juction closed over four nights.

City transport leader Lesley Hinds said the council was taking the opportunity to get the work done before all barriers were lifted from Princes Street in late November.

She said: “The carriageway surface on North and South St David Street is in a poor condition so I’m pleased we’ve been able to take advantage of this ‘window of opportunity’ before Princes Street reopens fully to get this sorted. It’s also sensible to get the work completed now before winter arrives.

“I know from personal experience that the uneven road surface has made bus journeys on North and South St David Street pretty uncomfortable of late so I’m sure all road users – motorists, bus passengers and pedestrians – will be glad to see the road resurfaced.”

George McKendrick, Lothian Buses operations manager, added: “We appreciate Edinburgh City Council’s endeavours to improve the city centre road surfacing, which will enable Lothian Buses to improve the quality of our journeys for our passengers.”