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Leith Walk Project

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  1. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "Why is the 'red surfacing' (chips?) not continuous across McDonald Road?"

    Pedestrian crossing.

    "not off road so wont encourage nervous cyclists"

    Strictly true, but looks 'additional' to the roadspace, and depends on if they put a kerb separating it from the road. If they do, then to all intents and purposes it is off-road (except for the road crossings).

    It's an improvement. I don't necessarily have much of a problem with it, though a lot of whether that remains the case would be based on seeing how it works in practice and (as is always the case) how it connects with the top of the street to get you to (for example) George Street (from the looks of it you just move out into the bus lane, which is disappointing).

    I'm reserving judgement.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "Why is the 'red surfacing' (chips?) not continuous across McDonald Road?"

    "Pedestrian crossing."

    Yes, but there's an extra gap.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  3. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Yeah, I was trying to work out what connection it could have with the pedestrian crossing. Presume there's a reason for it - either that or it's a graphical-typo.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Car-Sick Glasgow (@carsickglasgow)
    05/07/2016, 15:30
    This is a disaster. Someone will be killed here, just as in London @SpokesLothian @CyclingEdin @edfoc @allytibbitt

    http://pic.twitter.com/jExdt12Ebe

    "

    Posted 7 years ago #

  5. UtrechtCyclist
    Member

    Don't really understand CarSickGlasgow's point here. Why is left hook here more likely than at any other cycle lane across a junction? This looks like plenty of junctions I used to have on my commute to work in Utrecht.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  6. UtrechtCyclist
    Member

    Perhaps the complaint is that having the red chips continuous across the junction encourages cyclists to be too far to the left? This is where I position myself crossing junctions like this, although obviously I don't undertake at junctions...

    Posted 7 years ago #

  7. UtrechtCyclist
    Member

    There are a few things that I'm disappointed they didn't include. The cycle lane is more wiggly than I'd like, and I think they missed a trick by not segregating the southbound lane across the Pilrig st junction, this would have let cyclists there have a green light when traffic emerging from Pilrig st, a significant benefit. But I would use these lanes, if they link up to well designed lanes that take me all the way to the top of the walk then that significantly decreases the stress of doing Leith walk. I think this is the first bus stop bypass in Edinburgh for bikes.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  8. mgj
    Member

    I was at that junction today, heading that direction. At present there is a turn left only lane and a straight on. There is an ASL, fed by a cycle lane in the middle of it. That lets me get to the front and in the correct road position to join the cycle lane north of Pilrig St. A junction design that is safer in that it doesn't put me inside of left turning traffic. Which I think is what CarSickGlasgow is complaining about. More to the point, these weird bike crossing points imply that cyclists are somehow lesser road users, off to the side and not on the main road. I'll bet that cars don't give way to them, or block them, but they put cyclists inside turning cars, and that cant be a safe design on the north side, as bikes will be going 15-20 mph (I get up to that speed on the lower half, which isn't as steep).

    Posted 7 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    What I wrote at the start of this thread (two years ago)

    "... it's important to get the message across that it's about making LW nicer for people - residents, shoppers on foot, bike or bus - not, primarily, for those passing through.

    ...

    It may not be desirable to create a 'cycle highway', but it's certainly essential that people who wouldn't consider cycling there at the moment feel 'safe' in all sections and BOTH directions!

    A year ago some people thought that campaigning for 'a better Leith Walk' was a waste of time.

    ...

    "

    Posted 7 years ago #

  10. kaputnik
    Moderator

    There's a slight disappointment that the planned improvements stop on the side streets as soon as your'e round the corner.

    My particular gripe is the end of Brunswick Road (which is a bit of a rat run from London and Easter Roads to Leith Walk) outside Tesco, where there is a built-in bottleneck as part of some previously misguided attempt at "traffic calming" https://goo.gl/maps/jyATjoB1Zws

    Pavement widening is all good, except when the guard rail prevents the widened section being used. This has encouraged the council to place bins in this area too, adding to the obstruction.

    If you're heading for McDonald Road, you can't filter and if you're coming from McDonald Road, you get across the junction only to find you have to move across as impatient vehicles behind are revving on your wheel to try and squeeze past.

    As it was put on Twitter, "the whole length is in need of some serious Safer Routes to School treatment" (I mean there's only a school there, after all.

    It won't get any better given amount of housing now going in on the old Royal Mail depot with Brunswick Road as the only vehicular access.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  11. HankChief
    Member

    Was anyone here involved in the Working Group to fine tune the design for Leith Walk?

    Interested to know how it worked and whether the scheme benefitted from the approach.

    Ta

    Posted 7 years ago #

  12. jonty
    Member

    Any ideas when this is going to start?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  13. crowriver
    Member

    I presume after SGN finish upgrading the gas main at the junction with Brunswick Road. Scheduled to last 12 weeks, started end of July......so maybe late September for the next phase of Leith Walk works?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  14. jonty
    Member

    I actually just answered my own question by looking at the Council roadworks page. "City of Edinburgh Council Leith Project phase 4. Lane closures, parking restrictions and temporary traffic lights as needed. Iona Street, Albert Street, Middlefield, Brunswick Street, Brunswick Road and Shrub Place lane closed as required." is going to begin on 5th September.

    (The gas works stop on the 9th.)

    Posted 7 years ago #

  15. crowriver
    Member

    (Received today)

    Dear Stakeholder,

    Update 85 – Leith Programme Phase 4 contractor mobilisation reminder, and Bernard Street survey work

    Leith Programme Phase 4 (Pilrig Street to McDonald Road) contractor mobilisation on site

    A reminder that following the procurement process for Phase 4 of the Leith Programme, Land Engineering Ltd was appointed to deliver the Pilrig Street to McDonald Road section of our improvement works. Land Engineering are currently mobilising on site, ahead of a 10 month construction period due to start in September 2016, with a planned completion date expected in Summer 2017.

    In addition, in advance of the Council deciding on whether or not to extend the tram line north of York Place, enabling works will be incorporated in the footways in order to ensure that, should the decision be taken in 2017 to extend the current line, future disruption impacting on the local area is kept to a minimum.

    Bernard Street – Ground Penetrating Radar Survey and Site Investigation – week commencing 5 September

    As part of the detailed planning underway in advance of a Council decision on whether or not to extend the tram line north of York Place, limited surveying and investigative work is required to confirm in greater detail information relating to the location of underground services at Bernard Street junction.

    A initial, non–intrusive, survey is therefore planned to be carried out at the Bernard Street and Constitution Street junction, to take place over two night shifts during the week commencing 5 September 2016. L&M Engineering have been appointed, following procurement, to carry out the ground penetrating radar survey (GPRS).

    The GPRS will be followed by physical site investigation, and details of the contractor and dates will be circulated in due course. The site investigation is expected to last for around ten working days and will involve the digging of slit trenches. In order to minimise disruption to traffic and local residents and businesses, each of the trenches will be restricted to single traffic lanes to ensure that all roads remain open during the works, with traffic management in operation.

    We hope you find this useful and if you are looking for any further information or advice then please don’t hesitate to contact me.

    (Name redacted as a courtesy)

    Posted 7 years ago #

  16. Klaxon
    Member

    Thank goodness it's starting! I have a funny feeling I'll be doing daily updates once the good stuff starts appearing. Sadly there's no overhead viewpoint.

    A 10 month build time for 400m of road means this is no top surface relay.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/business/next-stage-of-leith-walk-improvement-works-to-begin-1-4219546

    Posted 7 years ago #

  18. crowriver
    Member

    The comments on that article demonstrate that it's not just Roseburn that's full of prejudiced whiners with bees in their bonnets.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  19. Klaxon
    Member

    'They should just fix the potholes'

    Funny, that's most of what the project is. Resurfacing, properly. One hell of a mental disconnect to not be able to make that link.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Dear Stakeholder,

    Update 86 – Leith Programme Phase 4 - Works update for week commencing 12 September

    Leith Programme Phase 4 (Pilrig Street to McDonald Road)
    Following their site mobilisation and initial preparatory works this week, Land Engineering Ltd, the contractors appointed to deliver the Pilrig Street to McDonald Road section of our improvement works, will commence construction next week (12 September 2016) adjacent to the Shrubhill redevelopment site and Middlefield on the west side of Leith Walk. These works will concentrate on footway reconstruction. The traffic management will consist of a single lane closure in order to ensure minimal disruption and traffic flow.

    More details on upcoming works and any associated temporary traffic management arrangements will be provided in future updates

    We hope you find this useful and if you are looking for any further information or advice then please don’t hesitate to contact me.

    Regards
    Alan

    "

    Posted 7 years ago #

  21. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/leith/new-mural-announced-for-leith-walk-as-part-of-ongoing-project-1-4227949

    Posted 7 years ago #

  22. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Edinburgh’s housing leader, councillor Cammy Day, said: “I’m pleased that partnership working and council loans through the National Housing Trust (NHT) will enable more than 370 new homes to be built at Shrubhill with over 60% of them being affordable.

    “The development is a major part of the regeneration of Leith Walk, bringing life back into an area that has lain derelict for many years.”

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/leith/housing-development-site-set-for-former-leith-walk-tram-depot-1-4228694

    All it needs is a cycle route or a t...

    Posted 7 years ago #

  23. mgj
    Member

    The lane closure on the northbound side gave me a host of new potholes to learn about and avoid this morning. Could they not have patched the worst of these in advance?

    Posted 7 years ago #

  24. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/is-leith-walk-the-capital-s-dirtiest-street-1-4228733

    Posted 7 years ago #

  25. Klaxon
    Member

    The preponderance of flytipping on Elgin Terr and Edina St is far worse than Leith Walk on most given days

    I'm unfamiliar with the day to day condition of the rest of the northern side streets (Albert, Iona and so forth) but I don't imagine them being much nicer

    Posted 7 years ago #

  26. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Albert Street is the worst of the Dalmeny / Iona / et ceteras in my experience.

    The never ending dumping of mattresses and smashed up cheap sofas and furniture units has led me to the deduced conclusion (fair, accurate or otherwise) that a lot of it is coming from buy-to-lets being cleared at the end of a lease.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  27. Klaxon
    Member

    Small beginnings for Phase 4


    https://i.imgur.com/pNLFCtF.jpg

    A brief tale. Back before the consultation for this phase, I did the rounds of local shops to try and get them on board for completely closing Brunswick St and having a small public square across the old junction.

    Mixed response - but one of the most memorable was the corner shop owner at 97 Brunswick St to whom such a proposition was absolutely unacceptable as his 'whole business' came from 'cars and vans stopping in the morning'

    This was about 18 months ago. Today I noticed that a clothes shop has just opened in his place. Can't have been the lack of passing vehicular trade after all.

    Ultimately the final designs came out and the road isn't to be closed. However, it will be significantly narrowed and, playing the long game, the tram stop at the library will force a 'no right turn' restriction which will make the street unusable for rat-runs which was the point all along.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  28. chdot
    Admin

    "A brief tale"

    Perhaps you should send it to City Centre Leith Team, and Cycle Team too.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  29. Rob
    Member

    "his 'whole business' came from 'cars and vans stopping in the morning'"

    I wonder if that was the case before Tesco Express opened <100m away.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  30. Klaxon
    Member

    Indeed. I'm not the greatest fan of the business of Tesco and Sainsbury's taking over local streets but the age of corner shops that only sell newspapers, milk, lager 4 packs, soft drinks and confectionary is well and truly over.

    Posted 7 years ago #

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