NEW digital bus shelters designed by one of Britain's most famous architects Lord Norman Foster are being brought in across Edinburgh.
Nine of the new-generation shelters fitted with screens that as act as advertising billboards have been installed along Princes Street, in the first phase of the development.
The new digital shelters comprise 84 inch digital screens, the biggest of its kind.
Edinburgh will be the first major UK city to benefit from the shelters installed by outdoor media owner JCDecaux, which will also deliver LiveTouch (touch screen) capabilities to provide real-time tourism, local and council information.
The firm already operates similar touchscreen shelters in other European cities, where users can charge their phones and access free wi-fi.
Over 350 advertising bus shelters, designed by Lord Norman Foster, are also being upgraded throughout the city.
Edinburgh City Council transport convener Lesley Hinds said: "These new digital bus shelters will not only vastly improve the appearance of some of our busiest streets, providing comfortable shelters for public transport users, but will also allow us to communicate real-time messages to the public, visitors and commuters efficiently, transforming on-street advertising."
JCDecaux's 10-year media partnership contract with Edinburgh covers the design, installation and maintenance of 436 advertising bus shelters and management of all non-advertising bus shelters in the city.
The improvement programme on all bus shelters is expected to last until 31 October, with work taking place outwith peak hours in order to minimise impact on traffic and bus users.
Last year the council signed a ten-year contract with JCDecaux to manage its 1500 bus shelters and 60 large-format billboards, as well as look into other schemes including way-finding signage and a city-wide bicycle hire scheme.
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