Edinburgh Waterloo Place closure latest: Dates, traffic diversion route, bus changes and access for cyclists
The closure will bring three months of disruption to Edinburgh city centre - here’s everything you need to know
Waterloo Place in Edinburgh will be shut off to westbound traffic for around 11 weeks from Monday as essential works begin.
The work on a section of the busy city centre thoroughfare is extensive and will mean months of disruption for commuters - and it comes just a week after Princes Street reopened to traffic.
Here’s all the details about the closure.
What work is happening?
Scottish Water are carrying out repair work on the water and wastewater network beneath the road from September 7.
Repair crews will be working to divert and upgrade a 130-year-old cast iron water main hidden beneath the road alongside carrying out work to strengthen an existing manhole and the surrounding ground.
To minimise the disruption, the team will be digging a shaft deep under the road’s surface so that 25 meters of new pipeline can be pulled through, taking care not to impact other underground services running close to the sewer section.
What roads are impacted?
The road will be closed in the westbound direction to all vehicles between Calton Hill and Leith Street to ensure that the work can be carried out safely.
It will run from the Leith Street junction near the Register House building to the Hume Walk entrance to Calton Hill.
Enabling works are already underway to minimise disruption to eastbound buses during the closure. Temporary traffic management will be in place while this is happening.
The eastbound lane will remain open.
What is the diversion?
A diversion will be in place via London Road.
Vehicles wanting to reach the city centre are set to be directed along London Road before turning onto Leith Walk and Leith Street to bypass the works.
Cyclists will be able to take the same route.
Bus stops along the road will be closed for the duration of the works with eastbound services operating as normal and serving a temporary stop at Calton Hill rather than Waterloo Place.
The westbound 15, 26, 44, X26, N107, N113 and N124 will be diverted via London Road and Leith Street, dropping off passengers at stops along the diversion.
Services 106 113 124 X4 X5 X6 X7 will also be diverted via London Road but will head along York Place as well as North and South St. David street before turning onto Princes Street.
Buses travelling to and from Princes street – the 43, X18, X19, X27 and X28 – will terminate at George Street.
Pedestrians will be able to walk along Waterloo Place as usual.
Why are the works taking place?
The works are part of a £3 million upgrade by Scottish Water to repair the sewer and water network underneath the road after a collapse was discovered beneath its surface during routine CCTV inspections.
Scottish Water also said the work would “improve the long-term resilience of the network” and reduce the chance of flooding.
They added: “While we appreciate the work is in a city centre location, we are using specialist techniques to minimise disruption and avoid digging up the entire length of road. Completing these repairs now will help ensure the network continues to reliably serve the city for many years to come.
“Thank you to all those affected for your patience and understanding while we carry out these vital repairs.”