Traffic to be cut to one lane and bus stops moved as North Bridge refurbishment enters new 16-month phase

This stage will last over a year.

Traffic restrictions will soon begin on North Bridge as Edinburgh City Council enters a new stage of its £22 million refurbishment of the 120-year-old structure.

Road traffic will at times be cut to one lane and several bus stops on the bridge will be temporarily moved during this final stage of the works, due to be completed around June 2021.

The traffic restriction to the Category A listed structure will begin on February 17.

Several bus stops will be moved.

The refurbishment project, which began in 2018, involves relaying pavement slabs and kerbs and installing expansion joints as well as resurfacing and waterproofing repairs.

Work will also be done to the underside of the bridge including reconstructing secondary structures and repairs to the reinforced concrete bridge deck.

The King's Own Scottish Borderers War Memorial on the east plinth of the bridge's south pier will also be restored.

Balfour Beatty was awarded the contract and last year put up 300km of scaffolding, connectors and boards on the bridge.

Specialist contractors are now restoring the bridge's cast iron works, which were installed in 1897 and were last repainted in 1990.

A document released by Edinburgh City Council lays out the next stage of the plans.

It explains: "Traffic management, which will be carried out in a series of phases and will begin on 17 February, has been developed with all road users in mind and ensures that footpaths and one lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained.

"As part of this, some of the bus stops on North Bridge will be temporarily moved, and the Council is working closely with bus companies to share on-street information about the nearest alternative stop."

After an assessment in 2014 it was decided that the bridge needed large-scale repair, and netting was put up to stop loose material falling onto streets or train tracks below.

The load-bearing capability of the bridge is not affected.

The bridge was built in 1894-97 by Sir William Arrol, also responsible for the construction of the Forth Rail Bridge.

The last major repair works were made in 1933, with painting to decorative facings and new parapets installed in 1990.

Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “We have reached a crucial stage in the project to refurbish this historic bridge, which provides a vital transport link between the north and south of Edinburgh.

“Now, as the team prepares to carry out essential work on street level and below, it’s necessary that we introduce some road restrictions.

"We have worked closely with bus companies and the emergency services to ensure minimum disruption during this period and will continue to monitor traffic flow for the duration.”