Waverley Bridge redesign being monitored – but bridge will not close

 

In February this year Waverley Bridge was closed to southbound traffic to allow the £1m improvement programme to take place.

Part of this work was to build a ‘setted raised table’ between the north and south ramps of Waverley Station. The raised table is designed to act as an informal or uncontrolled pedestrian crossing, encouraging traffic to slow down and making it much easier for pedestrians to cross the Bridge to and from the Station ramps

[tweet_box design=”default”]Following recent reports of a bus ‘grounding’ on the new raised part of the road on Waverley Bridge the council has confirmed it has no plans to close it meantime.[/tweet_box]

While the council are monitoring the area, there will be no further work done at present.

The work on Waverley Bridge was designed to improve the traffic, pedestrian access and road safety as per plans produced in 2013.

The council states categorically that the new design was agreed prior to the fatal accident last year on Waverley Bridge involving Reverend Tom Sinclair who was killed by a car. Rev Sinclair was attending the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland at the time of his death.

The council has also confirmed that here is no plan to reduce the speed limit on Waverley Bridge, but admits it may paint the warning ‘Slow’ on the road just in front of the raised area which they also say is within the standard specifications for raised tables on roads

 

Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Following various reports that Waverley Bridge is to close later this month I want to clarify that this is not the case, and that we are not planning to reduce the gradient of a raised table on the street.

“We are currently monitoring the situation with regard to buses crossing the table, which has been designed to standard specification, and are looking into methods of slowing vehicles down on approach, which is necessary for smooth transit.

“The redesign of Waverley Bridge and Market Street dates back more than two years, and was implemented to enhance the area’s environment for public transport users and pedestrians, as well as improving road safety and traffic management.

“As the changes begin to take shape, we are already seeing the benefits to the public, and have received lots of positive feedback on its impact on reducing street clutter and improving access to Airlink and tour buses in addition to cycling provision.”

What The Edinburgh Reporter saw there yesterday morning was two vans taking advantage of the lovely smooth surface on the pavements by mounting the kerb to park there.