After eight years of work, the North Bridge is on track to open this week.
Earlier this week, both pavements on the bridge were open at the same time, with part of the carriageway still coned off.
The Local Democracy Service understands final works are being completed on the carriageway, with rain this week slowing progress slightly.
Edinburgh Council’s leader, Labour councillor Jane Meagher, announced the bridge would reopen by the end of July late last month, meaning it would be available for use during the summer festivals.
She stated in a report before the June full council meeting that it was ‘fantastic’ to see the bridge returned to its former glory.
She continued: “After years of painstaking work, the North Bridge will completely reopen to traffic and pedestrians by the end of July – ahead of festival season getting underway.
“This has been a complex and difficult project but I hope you’ll agree it has been worth it.”
For much of the closure, pedestrian traffic has been restricted to one of the bridge’s two footways.
And traffic has been limited to two out of four lanes on the bridge, with the closure seeing long stretches of one-way operation, diverting drivers and buses.
Work is set to continue on the underside of the bridge after the opening in July.
At a recent rededication ceremony, a time capsule was buried within the bridge, joining one placed within the structure sometime during its construction during 1894 and 1897.
Before then, an earlier span, which started construction in 1763, covered the stretch.
An inspection of the bridge in 2016 found water intrusion issues inside the bridge, with £12m set aside to repair deficiencies with it.
But as work progressed, more and more issues were found, leading to the hefty final price tag and extensive period of closure.
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter
