Edinburgh's tram extension: some sections will be completed later than planned

Several sections of the tram extension to Newhaven will take longer than scheduled to complete, council chiefs have admitted – but they say the overall project is still on track to open in spring 2023 and within the £207.3m agreed budget.

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Leith Walk is due to reopen to two-way traffic between Pilrig Street and London Road from Monday. The main construction works between Montgomery Street/Annandale Street and Pilrig Street are now complete and fencing will be removed from outside businesses and homes.

But the programme for some other sections of the route has changed due to what are described as “industry-wide challenges” with the availability of materials and skilled labour, as well as other issues including “complex utility conflicts”.

The stretch between Melrose Drive and Newhaven, which was due for completion in June, is now expected to take until October. The Trams to Newhaven project said reinstatement works at the end of the line were taking longer than expected.

The area outside Ocean Terminal, due to be finished in May, has also been rescheduled for completion by October. Trams to Newhaven said the east side was taking longer because of complex utilities and the installation of drainage.

Between Rennie’s Isle and Tower Place, the complexity of utilities and the discovery of further archaeology are blamed for a delay, meaning work will not be completed until November.

The completion date for Stevedore Place has been moved from June to August. The discovery of uncharted utilities has resulted in a delay with attenuation pipes – which are being installed to improve drainage – at Tower Place, which will now not be finished until September.

Aerial photograph of Leith walk, between Pilrig Street and Annandale Street.

Completion of the section from Coatfield Lane to the Foot of the Walk has been delayed from June to September; the section from the Foot of the Walk to Crown Street from September to November; from Crown Street to Manderston Street from July to October; from Manderston Street to Pilrig Street from July to September; and works at Elm Row from July to November.

But the project said all major construction was expected to be complete by the end of 2022 ahead of a testing and commissioning period.

Transport convener Scott Arthur said it was great news that a key section of Leith Walk would soon reopen. “I’m sure it will be most welcome to businesses and residents along this part of the route.

“I do of course recognise that changes to the programme, which are down to issues outwith our control, are likely to affect people and we’ll be working hard to share the latest information and will continue to look at ways in which we can mitigate against some of these delays. To ensure residents are kept safe, I have also asked that parking restrictions are robustly enforced along the route.

"Despite the pandemic and global logistics problems, the project is on track to welcome its first passengers in spring 2023 and will be delivered within budget."

As part of the changes, there is no waiting or stopping between Pilrig Street and Annandale Street, though there is designated loading and parking provision on both the east and west side of Leith Walk. Logistics hubs to support businesses on Albert Street and Montgomery Street with deliveries and dispatches will also remain on this section of Leith Walk.