Edinburgh's world-famous shopping street could be partially re-opened throughout the latest phase of the city�s controversial tramworks after planned closures of both carriageways caused gridlock.
Edinburgh's world-famous shopping street could be partially re-opened throughout the latest phase of the city's controversial tramworks after planned closures of both carriageways caused gridlock.
A meeting yesterday, called by Edinburgh City Council to discuss last week's traffic chaos, brought a recommendation to consider reopening Princes Street to buses and taxis in one direction for the remainder of the works at the junction with the Mound.
The westbound carriageway of Princes Street is already back in use after tram chiefs at Transport Initiative Edinburgh Ltd (Tie) were forced to reverse a planned temporary traffic ban within hours of imposing it last Wednesday when surrounding streets became jammed.
A decision on whether to keep it open until work moving utilities finishes at the end of November will be made today at a meeting of a new tramworks "peer review group" set up to ensure delays are kept to a minimum.
The group, chaired by the council's head of transport with representatives from Tie, Lothian Buses and Lothian and Borders Police, was formed at yesterday's meeting to scrutinise all traffic management and contingency plans relating to the roadworks.
Plans to close Princes Street again completely in January for five months, to allow work to lay tracking for the trams, will also be reassessed to make sure that "mitigation measures" are in place.
Other action agreed included improving diversion signs, ensuring that council parking attendants target problems such as illegal loading at traffic hotspots and reviewing all other roadworks in the light of the "biggest construction project Scotland has ever seen".
Further options include the introduction of new temporary park-and-ride sites in a bid to help discourage more people from driving into the city centre.
Council leader Jenny Dawe apologised again for the disruption last week as she announced the group's plans for ensuring that there will be no repeat of the delays.
She said: "I can assure drivers and travellers that actions have been taken to ensure we do everything we can to stop this happening again. We have agreed yet more improvements to ensure we remain a pleasant city to travel to and visit. This will ensure that future phases run as smoothly as the closures of Shandwick Place and Haymarket to traffic."
Tie Ltd said yesterday's meeting was constructive and welcomed the measures proposed by the council.
The firm is investigating a dispute over the tramworks between traders and workmen in Leith Walk which led to the police being called after a scuffle broke out yesterday over a "birthday banner".
Shop owner Diane Taylor-Wallis called the police after injuring her ankle as she tried to stop construction workers tearing down the banner marking the "first birthday" of a large hole. Traders say it should have been filled in long ago.
Neighbouring trader Keith Hales, of Leith Walk Barbers' Salon, erected the banner yesterday morning as a "light-hearted protest", but said it descended into farce after workmen from Carillion, who are carrying out the construction work, decided to burst balloons and remove the banner.
Carillion did not respond after being contacted for comment.
