Review of road signs at bridge after two accidents in two days

ROAD signs at an accident-blighted bridge near Murrayfield Stadium are being reviewed after it was the scene of two more collisions in as many days.

The low-level railway bridge in Roseburn Street has been the scene of numerous crashes over the years, involving buses and articulated lorries.

And on Sunday a pensioner suffered serious injuries after a double-decker bus careered into the bridge.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 74-year-old man had to be cut free from his seat on the top tier of the bus and was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.

Lothian and Borders Police confirmed a man now faces charges of driving without due care and attention.

Yesterday, less than 24 hours later, an articulated lorry required police assistance to get free after becoming trapped beneath the structure.

The bridge has been an accident black-spot for decades. In images published by the News since 1992 the top deck of some buses have nearly been cleaved off after drivers miscalculated the height of the bridge.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In November 2010, the News told how a double-decker party bus had its roof sliced off when it smashed into the bridge and became jammed. No-one was seriously injured on the bus, which was being driven around the Capital as part of a launch promotion.

And today council chiefs unveiled a plan to re-examine signage around the Roseburn Street bridge in the wake of the latest accident double whammy.

Ward councillor Jeremy Balfour, of the Scottish Conservatives, said: “I spoke to council officials about this bridge after seeing the images of the bus crash on Monday.

“My understanding is that the signage on the approach to the bridge is statutorily right but the council has agreed to look at it again and see if we need to erect more signage to give drivers a bit more warning. We may need to place signs earlier on.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fellow Murrayfield representative, Councillor Paul Edie, said his primary concern was driver safety. “I’m concerned about any accident involving people having to be cut out of a vehicle – like the pensioner on Sunday,” he said.

“If they are reviewing signage at the bridge I can only welcome that. Hopefully we can get something there that is better than what we have at the moment.

“If there are repeated accidents there that is a problem whether or not it’s down to driver error. I don’t care who owns the bridge, what I’m interested in is driver safety.”

A city council spokesman said: “We are reviewing the signage on the approach to the bridge in light of these recent incidents.”

Related topics: