Tram extension: consultants appointed to lead project

COUNCIL chiefs have appointed consultants Turner and Townsend as project managers for the proposed £145 million extension of the tram route down Leith Walk to Newhaven.

A decision on the tram extension will be made after the council elections

The firm - which took over day-to-day management of the original tram project from the council’s own arms-length company TIE in 2011 - has been awarded a £617,705 contract.

Turner and Townsend was also responsible for the Jeddah Metro in Saudi Arabia and the Time Warner Building in Manhattan.

The council has also appointed Atkins Ltd as technical advisers for the extension under a £449,710 contract and Ashurt LLP as legal advisers under a contract worth £118,872.

A decision on whether to go ahead with the extension will be made after the council elections in May.