Major Edinburgh road re-opens early after nearly six months of waterworks at Gorgie Road
Section of major Edinburgh road re-opens six months earlier than planned
A major Edinburgh road has re-opened to the public earlier than originally scheduled after nearly six months of waterworks.
A section of Gorgie Road had been closed since January 25, causing major headaches for motorists in the west of the city trying to get to and from the city centre, as well as bus diversions, and was expected to stay closed until July 31.
However, the major £3 million Scottish Water investment designed to protect the Water of Leith in Saughton Park has been completed ahead of schedule, with the road re-opening to the public a week early.
Traffic management which was in place between Robb’s Loan and Hutchison Crossway for six months was removed a week earlier than planned and this busy junction has now been fully re-opened.
This project, part of the utility’s £500m Improving Urban Waters programme, involved constructing a new overflow chamber with a powered screen to reduce sewer-related debris entering the watercourse during heavy rainfall events.
The new chamber has been built around the existing, Victorian-era storm overflow, incorporating an historic piece of infrastructure into a modern wastewater system, rather than removing it altogether.
Scottish Water senior project manager Ethan Gillies Denning said: “We are pleased to have delivered this multi-million pound investment which will benefit customers and the environment in the west of Edinburgh for years to come.
“The new infrastructure, which we have been able to install around the critical, existing Victorian-era wastewater sewer and storm overflow, has been designed help protect homes and businesses during heavy rain.
“This integrated design also enabled to reduce the duration of the construction phase of the project, which helped us minimise disruption for our customers.
“The investment will significantly reduce debris entering the Water of Leith, supporting cleaner rivers and a healthier local environment for people and wildlife.”
He added: “We are aware that Gorgie Road is one of the key transport routes linking west Edinburgh with the city centre , and that the road closure has been disruptive.
“We are grateful for the co-operation of the community which has allowed us to carry out this work as safely and as quickly as we possibly could.”
Jennifer Renton, CWA customer manager, said: “We are delighted to have completed our works on Gorgie Road and, importantly, to have re-opened the road a week ahead of schedule. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, commitment and collaboration shown by everyone involved throughout the project.
“Our focus was on delivering the works as safely and efficiently as possible while minimising disruption to residents, businesses, and road users.
“Through careful planning and close partnership working with Scottish Water, the City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian Buses, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Rugby Union, we were able to effectively manage the challenges presented by a number of major events at Murrayfield Stadium, including international rugby fixtures and large-scale concerts.
“We would like to thank the local community, businesses and commuters for their patience and understanding while these essential improvements were carried out.”
The project is part of publicly owned Scottish Water's Improving Urban Waters programme, an additional £500m package of investment to improve the environment and make it more enjoyable for customers to explore their local area.
Working closely with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Water has identified priority storm overflows for improvement or replacement for water quality or aesthetic – sewer related debris – reasons.
Under the banner ‘Draining the Rain, Enhancing the Environment’ the investment will help prevent sewer related debris such as wet wipes from entering the environment during periods of rainfall.