Waverley Bridge is now closed off to vehicles

Waverley Bridge has today been closed off to cars and buses.

The bridge is closed to vehicles at the junction with Princes Street, however cycle access from Princes Street has been maintained. The bridge is also partially closed at the junction with Market Street, allowing only taxi access and loading to Waverley Station and Princes Mall from the Market Street end. Space has been allocated to allow queuing for users of Waverley Station and for taxis.

Multiple changes to the city’s roads and transportation networks are being implemented under new emergency delegated decision-making powers, which have come into force in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The powers enable the council to make changes to city infrastructure without usual public consultation procedures taking place. However, an agreed five-day notification period with ward councillors, transport spokespeople, community councils and stakeholders including Living Streets, Spokes, the Edinburgh Access Panel and RNIB takes place prior to any new decisions being finalised.

Edinburgh City Council Transport and Environment Convener, Lesley Macinnes, said: “One positive aspect of these last few, trying months is the city’s clear desire to get walking and cycling.

“From this week we will begin implementing several, major interventions in the city centre to help create a safer environment, encouraging people to spend time on foot or bike as restrictions ease. These include footway widening and the introduction of bus, cycle and taxi gates on East Princes Street and South St David Street, reducing traffic volumes and aiding cycling and public transport, and the partial closure of Waverley Bridge. This kind of real, tangible change, supported by similar, forthcoming measures across the city’s local high streets, will help us to move to the next phase of eased restrictions.

“It’s clear there’s work to do – and we’re responding. Every suggestion, from removing guardrails on narrow pavements to pedestrianising streets, to speed reduction or pop-up cycle lanes, is extremely valuable. This process is a very complex one and our teams are working flat-out to assess and consider responses, as well as linking them to those actions already identified across the city.”