Roundabout route to £1m cycle bridge

The bridge, which will be funded by the Scottish Executive, will cross the busy Sheriffhall roundabout on the city bypass near Dalkeith.

The flyover plans were first discussed more than four years ago, and Midlothian Council said today that the project was again under consideration. It could not say when the project would be completed.

The bridge was originally intended to be one of 33 national initiatives supported by the Scottish Executive’s Public Transport Fund, and it agreed to provide 800,000 in 1999.

If the scheme goes ahead, funding will come from the Executive’s Transport Challenge Fund.

Sheriffhall roundabout is one of the busiest sections of the city bypass, and campaigners have been demanding a cycle bridge for years.

In 1997, Spokes Lothian Cycle Campaign urged members to write to their MPs to press for a crossing, but traffic lights were introduced instead.

Ian Maxwell, a member of Spokes, said he was "delighted" with today’s news.

He said: "The Sheriffhall roundabout is a very important gateway for people leaving or entering the city and we would welcome any plans to make this horrible junction more accessible for cyclists.

"As long as the bridge is properly designed it will make good sense. Although 1m may seem like a lot of money, this will be a very important development for the safety of cyclists.

"When the bypass was created, it was great for motorists but it was a ring of steel for cyclists."

Chris Herraghty, a spokesman for the Edinburgh University Cycling Club, said the plans were "a step in the right direction".

"This sounds like a fantastic idea which will make it safer and easier to cross a very busy roundabout," he said. "I am sure that a lot of cyclists will make use of the bridge and we will certainly encourage our members to do so."

But not everyone is happy with the proposals. Cyclist Henryk Belda, who regularly crosses the Sheriffhall roundabout, said the bridge would be a "waste of money".

"Any competent cyclist can negotiate traffic lights, which negates the need for a cycle bridge," he said. "The only reason I can think of for this decision by Midlothian Council, none of whom are cyclists by their own admission, is that they can get money for building a cycle bridge and advertise themselves as being cycle-friendly."

A Midlothian Council spokeswoman said: "The council are currently in contact with the Scottish Executive regarding the proposed pedestrian and cyclist link at Sheriffhall roundabout, and other projects funded under the Transport Challenge Fund, to secure the best way forward for Midlothian."

There would be further discussion and a report before any proposal was finalised, she added.

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: "The Executive awarded 802,000 to Midlothian Council in October 1999 from the Public Transport Fund for provision of a pedestrian and cyclist link at Sheriffhall roundabout.

"It is a matter for Midlothian Council as to how they take this project forward."