News Story

Locals have expressed their frustration at the closure of another of Edinburgh’s main roads for works expected to last 10 weeks, with one saying “it’s one thing after another”.

Waterloo Place will be closed westbound until November 20 while Scottish Water carries out “essential repairs” to water and wastewater networks beneath the road.

The £3 million project will include ground strengthening, the installation of new sewer piping, and the diverting and upgrading of a 130-year-old cast iron water main.

The planned closure comes shortly after two major adjoining roads reopened following extended periods of disruption.

Princes Street reopened nine days ago, having been closed for around two months following a fire in a former department store building in July.

The city’s South Bridge, which joins onto Waterloo Place, also only fully reopened at the end of July following an eight-year restoration.

The latest closure means all westbound vehicle traffic is diverted onto London Road and Leith Street.

Angela McKenzie, who lives in Leith, told the Press Association the closure was “really frustrating”, saying it “makes it really difficult to get into town and just go about your daily business”.

“It’s really frustrating because these roads are in a key central throughway through Edinburgh, they’ve been closed (on and off) for many years,” she said.

“It almost feels like every time you make a journey in Edinburgh, you’re going to come across at least one roadwork, and it’s just really, really frustrating trying to get around the city.”

The 54-year-old, who works in marketing, accepted that there will always be “really important work” to do to maintain the city’s infrastructure but that “the way it’s planned never seems to make sense”.

“Road closures happen at odd places and odd times, and you get a lot of work happening in the same place, time and time again,” she said.

“It really feels like there’s no strategic thinking behind it.”

Emma Martin, who travels into Edinburgh for her job in financial services, described the closure as a “nightmare”.

“It’s so frustrating. It just seems to be one thing after another, the bridge is open and it’s lovely, and then the next minute something else gets shut,” she said.

“So you don’t really get to see the benefit of the bridges being open, the traffic running smoothly, because another part of the city is shut.”

She added: “I think it’s just about planning the timing.

“If they just timed it at a better point, or not straight after the Fringe, let the city get back on its feet a wee bit, and then later in the year.”

A 77-year-old former offshore worker, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he felt the council was “on a hiding to nothing” as people would also complain if the work did not get done.

“It’s definitely not ideal, but the council I suppose have got to go ahead with these things,” he said.

“I’m sure it upsets thousands of people. But they would complain anyway if the road was in a poor state. So, you know, the council’s on a hiding to nothing basically.”

Scottish Water said: “This £3 million investment to upgrade ageing infrastructure is essential to safeguard a key section of Edinburgh’s water and wastewater network after a collapse was discovered beneath the road surface during routine CCTV inspections.”

The company said: “While we appreciate the work is in a city centre location, we are using specialist techniques to minimise disruption and avoid digging up the entire length of road.

“Completing these repairs now will help ensure the network continues to reliably serve the city for many years to come.”