Work to repair the 19th century North Bridge took much longer, and was more expensive, than anticipated.
Councillors agreed to invest in the structure in 2018 after inspections disclosed defects in the A-listed structure – which had not had any significant attention since 1933.
The project required the bridge to be completely covered in complicated scaffolding to ensure that workers were safe as well as the public below.
At times the bridge was entirely closed to traffic, and at others one-way traffic was allowed.
The bridge has now been grit blasted and all structural steelwork has been repainted.The concrete deck on the bridge has been repaired and structural monitoring systems have been installed. Pavements. have been repaired and improved and new lighting installed.
In addition the King’s Own Scottish Borderers War Memorial has been repaired and restored.
When the work was underway, the contractors realised that more work would be required, as well as more funding. The total investment on repairing the bridge has been disclosed as around £84 million.
In anticipation of any future works, permanent platforms have been put in to allow access for inspection and maintenance.
But on Friday evening the entire bridge was reopened to the public, both pedestrians and vehicles – both ways.
Although the key transport link between the north and south of the city is fully open, there are some finishing touches which the council say will be completed later in the year.
A time capsule has been interred on the bridge to make future generations aware of the huge refurbishment project. Some of the items included in the capsule include:
- A letter from the Lord Provost Robert Aldridge and Council Leader Jane Meagher to the future citizens of Edinburgh.
- A paint brush used by the Transport and Environment Convener Stephen Jenkinson to hand finish the cast iron façade.
- A Balfour Beatty high visibility vest.
- A Glengarry Cap from the Kings Own Scottish Borderers regiment.
- The school prayer of St Augustine’s High School etched in glass.
- A photograph of the Historic Environment Scotland grants team on a site visit.
- Three books created as part of the North Bridge Refurbishment Project Legacy Arts Programme.
On Friday evening as the bridge reopened, people were keen to share their views.
Gareth aged 40 uses the bridge regularly and was quite matter of fact about the cost. He said: “I walk it every day, and every day it’s been an absolute nightmare because you can only walk on one side.
“So obviously now today is the first day that it’s fully open. One, buses are getting down it a lot quicker, and two, you can walk on either side. So come silly season, August tourist world, I would dread walking up that side, and now I’m happy that you can walk on either side.
“It’s been shut for eight years, and a lot of people that moved into Edinburgh don’t know any different. But if you’ve been lucky enough to see the bridge open before then you will have a different take on it.
“Yesterday I got off my bus on South Bridge and walked down this road because I can beat the bus to the end of the road. But already you can see that the traffic is moving like ten times faster than it has ever been before. It is a shame obviously as the trams are off right now, but it is definitely a massive benefit to transport in Edinburgh city.
“As to the cost well they didn’t know how deep the problem was until they started working on it. So it’s like three times the original cost, something like that. But doing something over eight years, labour costs have risen by around 20% so obviously it’s going to cost more. You know the best laid plans don’t always go to plan, but can you imagine the city without it? We had no option, and it is a massive improvement.”
Marie is a regular visitor who had just arrived on the train and realised she no longer had to walk “all the way around”.
She said: “It did disrupt me a lot. I used to come to the hospital here and we use the buses a lot. I didn’t realise it started in 2018 though. It will make my life a lot easier now.”
Another passerby who preferred to remain anonymous said this has been the biggest point of contention for him walking anywhere in this area. He said he has started the walk across the bridge in a good mood and then got to the bottom “in a fit of rage”. He said that feeling has now gone. He said: “I head the trams are coming up here and that is why the works have been done. When it comes to restoration stuff like this it takes time. It is an ancient city.”
