Preparations for resumption of Edinburgh's tram extension work will start on Monday

Safety checks on site
The council says the tram extension is still on budget despite the delay during lockdownThe council says the tram extension is still on budget despite the delay during lockdown
The council says the tram extension is still on budget despite the delay during lockdown

PREPARATIONS for work resuming on Edinburgh’s tram extension will begin on Monday in line with the Scottish Government’s easing of the coronavirus lockdown.

Work on taking the line from York place down Leith Walk and on to Newhaven was halted at the end of March when the lockdown was imposed.

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Construction cannot start again until phase two of the government’s timetable for lifting restrictions, but site preparation can get under way.

The preparation of construction sites and project offices will see infection control stations being set up, along with additional water stations and toilet facilities for workers. Workspaces and facilities will also be checked to ensure they are set up appropriately.

Other preparatory work will include removal of the protective in-fill material used to ensure the work sites remained safe and protected during the shutdown.

Once construction resumes, measures to protect workers’ health will include daily briefings, continuous on-site inspections and health and safety “ambassadors”. The numbers of workers on-site will be kept to a minimum and the majority of project office staff will continue to work from home.

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The council said despite the two-month pause, the project continues to operate within its £207.3m budget.

When construction is allowed to resume, works on the existing sites will recommence and the Leith Walk construction site will be established as planned prior to site shutdown.

Council leader Adam McVey said: “Following updated advice from the Scottish Government, we will be carrying out site preparatory works on the Trams to Newhaven project from Monday.

“The safety of workers and the public is of utmost importance during this time and all works will be undertaken in compliance with the government’s guidance on construction working and to allow physical distancing.

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“The tram team have put in an enormous amount of hard work with our contractors to take us through this challenging period and it will take some time to fully remobilise sites. The implications of Covid-19 are unlikely to be understood for some time but we continue to work to mitigate the impact as we progress with the project."

Depute leader Cammy Day said the tram extension was one of a number of schemes crucial to the sustainable, long-term development of the city, helping to decarbonise travel.

“It is exactly the kind of investment we need post-Covid-19 to ensure Edinburgh is a thriving, forward-looking place for people to live and work in and will help to encourage much needed affordable housing, jobs and investment into North Edinburgh."

Alejandro Mendoza Monfort, director of main infrastructure contractor Sacyr Farrans Neopul, said: "SFN are delighted that we can restart our works on the Trams to Newhaven project. We understand the importance that this project will have for Edinburgh’s future and are committed to ensuring that we continue to mitigate the impact of coronavirus. During this pause period, concentrated efforts have continued behind the scenes to develop and test a series of robust systems and procedures, whilst ensuring the highest level of health, safety and wellbeing can be provided.

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"We have used this time to adapt to our new working world and developed new operating procedures that provide information, guidance and site-specific measures that will be implemented when conducting works to mitigate the impact, so far as reasonably practicable, of the virus."

The council said the resumption of main works would be subject to the Scottish Government giving approval to move to phase two of its construction guidelines which allows a “soft start to site works, only where physical distancing can be maintained”.

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