I'm hearing that scraping back the path to full width has started on the South side near to Norton House Entrance.
Anyone know more?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
A8 route - Consulation
(161 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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Looking good on the area East of Lochend Road as far as the footbridge (with the obvious exception of the houses). The paths look like they will be twice as wide as before and they are being built up carefully. Photos on my Strava account for those who know me, still haven't worked out how to post a photo here.
Also feels like the vegetation has been cut back all along the route which does make a difference. South side of carriageway is closed, so difficult to see what has been done.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Southbound path is open, smooth and much wider between the BP garage and Ratho Station. Vegetation (a rgular problem at my head height) is stripped right back and it is a much more pleasant experience. Bus shelters have disappeared, but there is a temporary bus stop sign- what will happen to that?
Northbound side has signs of progress- widening between the Ratho station footbridge and Lochend Rd. Lochend Bus stop has disappeared. A lot of stones were in place, making this a very bumpy ride but this has mostly had a first layer of tarmac over it (~100m to go). However, I expect a better job before it is all done. Lots of manhole and drain covers are protruding by 3-6" above the current surface and look dangerous for the unwary. Hopefully the path will be brought up to this level.
Great effort from Spokes, @Hankchief and all those who made detailed submissions on this. It isn't complete but there is real progress.
Posted 8 years ago # -
I believe the speed limit dropped from 40 to 60 from before the Airport to Ratho Station a few weeks ago.
Posted 8 years ago # -
To clarify my earlier comment (which was already the wrong way around and should say 70, not 60) - the NSL sign just before the Airport has (and AFAIK still is) been sprayed over with grey paint. I assumed this meant they want the whole section to be 40, but there are NSL repeaters on the lamposts still there which imply it's still 70.
Anyone know what's going on? Was the grey paint just for roadworks or something?
Posted 8 years ago # -
As part of the A8 path improvements, work has started on much needed sorting of the drainage on quiet route 9 behind David Lloyds in Gyle park.
Last winter it was either muddy, waterlogged or impassable with ice
Gyle Park Ice by HankChief, on FlickrNow
Drainage work Gyle park by HankChief, on FlickrUnfortunately, the other paths in the park are terribly waterlogged
Puddles Gyle Park by HankChief, on Flickr
Posted 7 years ago # -
Good news. Signs are out warning that the next section of work is about to start on 1st May :-)
The path by the Highland Showground is to be resurfaced & widened.
Diversion via the South side path
Posted 7 years ago # -
CEC have plans to drop the A8 Glasgow Road speed limit from 70mph to 40mph all the way from Gogar to Newbridge to facilitate a toucan crossing at the BP garage
Great idea.
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/2493/tro1790_-_a8_glasgow_road_edinburgh
"The council, in partnership with SUSTRANS, are currently progressing a scheme to upgrade the A8 cycleway, enhancing walking and cycle provision between Newbridge and South Gyle. To permit the introduction of a toucan crossing and to assist in road safety, it is considered that the existing 70mph speed limit should be reduced to 40mph."
Posted 6 years ago # -
That is certainly the speed the cars are being driven at out that way
Posted 6 years ago # -
Why have a toucan crossing? You can get across the A8 at the roundabout a couple of hundred yards down the road. or the footbridge 1/2 a mile in the other direction. Given the other problems on the A8 route (Zero visibility for more than 10 yards up sideroads, narrow path along by houses at Ratho Station) this seems like a solution to a non problem.
Guess the reduction in speed limit should be pleasing to cyclists who ride on the dual carriageway.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The footbridge is a huge pain in the proverbial, even as a fit able-bodied person. Whilst I've not had problems crossing at the airport roundabouts it's easy to believe that it would be very not fun at certain times, and even at the best of times it's not 8-80 suitable, whilst a toucan crossing should be.
Posted 6 years ago # -
The visibility, width and general faffyness of Airport roundabouts is a major hinderence to good progress.
This would avoid that.
I understand there are still plans to come back to fix the Gogarstone Road entrance later this year. It is much easier to design a safe junction if you don't have to have an decleration and acceleration lane suitable for a 70mph road.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I tend to agree with paddyirish; the roundabout I find not a problem and, from a cycling point of view, the money would be better spent on converting the shallow steps on the bridge to a cycleable ramp. This was done at the top of Carricknowe Avenue when the previous new bridge there suddenly cut off Carricknowe to wheelchair users.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Some good progress being talked about at this week's TEC meeting
Posted 6 years ago # -
The "quality" of the objections was exceedingly poor - little more than EEN commenter style rants. Very easy to set aside I would think.
Posted 6 years ago # -
"3.9 Outwith busy traffic periods, when traffic on the A8 is relatively free flowing, the difference in journey times between travelling along this section of the A8 at 70mph and at 40mph is approximately one minute."
And yet they girn.
Posted 6 years ago # -
"And yet they girn."
"I'm ponying up £300 a month to lease this Audi that can do 155mph, and they want to force me to do 40mph? On a dual carriageway? Why am I wasting my hard earned cash when a Reliant Robin could suffice?"
Or somesuch.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Does anyone know if there's any plan for a speed camera here to enforce the limit? Considering the Maybury is a 40 mph limit and yet still has people doing 60 mph+ on it, I doubt making the A8 a 40 mph will make any difference to a lot of drivers.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Oooh that is exciting!! On the plans there seems to be a cyclepath constructed on the North side, east of the airport turn. I seem to recall that, when they first constructed the southside path, this was rejected because of insufficent distance from the carraigeway. Have the regs change?
Any idea of the timescale. Hope it is before Oct 2019 which is when I retire.Posted 6 years ago # -
That's a very badly redacted document, although it's interesting to note that the objectors all live outside Edinburgh while the supporters are residents of Edinburgh.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Yay. We got 40mph :-)
Have a listen to Cllr Douglas's question which I couldn't help but take to task on Twitter
Posted 6 years ago # -
I'm pretty miffed that CEC have chosen not to cut back the foliage at the Gogarstone Rd Junction of the A8 in time for Pedal For Scotland today.
They know it is a dangerous junction that they are wanting to redesign, but despite me raising overgrown foliage a month a go and again last weekend AND the local Cllr raising it with the Head of Transport for the North West Locality, nothing was done.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Anyone ever wondered what happens when you flag some maintence to @edinhelp?
FOI request 20398 may leave you underwhelmed
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/175/foi_disclosure_log?month=2018-9
Posted 6 years ago # -
Had to "play fetch" (bad dog) with the car today, taking it out to the "Luxury Car Village" at Newbridge for a safety recall.
Not so much of a village, more of a car-mageddon scene from the apocalypse. Despite huge land area devoted to parking lots, not a place in sight to park and dealers' cars parked in rows along the vestigial pavements (no doubt only put there because they were mandated by the council).
Trying to exit the dealership by bike to head to work - guess what, no pedestrian access to the A89 bike path! After making a mess of some flower beds, managed to find a gap between the fence and an electrical cabinet.
My word, the A8 bike path is abysmal. Full of obstructions, narrowings, bus shelters/passengers and giving way at side roads.
You end up wasting about 2 or 3 minutes crossing the A8 at the airport, then another 2 or 3 crossing it back again at RBS.
Then at Maybury, the path dumps you in some bushes, with no obvious way to get through the junction. After some double-backs (2 more mins wasted, no help from any meaningful signage), I managed to get across to the Shell garage, then on to North Gyle Tce. Followed by another 2 or 3 minutes wait at the 2-stage toucan of the 3rd time crossing the A8.
Honestly, they couldn't have made a less convenient path if they tried - all up I probably wasted around 15 mins, versus the road.
Oh, and I nearly forgot: The bollards at each end of the Newbridge roundabout footbridge preventing cargo bikes and trailers and so on...
Anyone know about the status of the path upgrade? Or is it another one that is stalled indefinitely?
Posted 5 years ago # -
@neddie
I'm just glad you didn't see it 2 years ago...
I guess I'm immune to it as a regular user, so forget what it is like for a first time user and also those who use non-conventional bikes. On the up side, if you use it again, I guess it will only cost you 5 mins next time...
One of my major bugbears is being addressed- the drainage in the fields by the airport slip roads - in winter that freezes solid and is utterly lethal. The main other ones for me are the blind approaches to the side roads, in particular the Gogarstone Road between RBS and the Airport.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Lots of potential - some coming sooner than others.
The 40mph limit (to make it all 40mph) was approved by TEC today (again!). Meanwhile the polis have been active
Markings and new crossing at the BP garage will go in next year. There will also be some tinkering of the route by Ratho Station.
Now that we have 40mph, they can redesign the Gogarstone Junction without the need for major sliproads.
The removal of the back & forth at the Airport / Gogarburn will only happen if/once the IBG get built, which would give us a continuous path on the North side. In the meantime the new toucan at the BP will make it slightly easier.
The long wait at the Volvo garage will only disappear if that section of Glasgow Road is reduced to 30mph. There is some consideration for this to happen (maybe as part of WEATN) but nothing concrete.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Anyone want to see Cllr Douglas's input into today's TEC discussion on reducing the speed limit on the A8...
I'll let you judge for yourself whether it was better than his last attempt.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I have had an inquiry about the A8, from someone saying they feel vulnerable crossing the side roads and asking if there is any more work pending. I have had a look through the Council website and it looks as though there is nothing in the pipeline - is that right?
Posted 5 years ago # -
Assume you mean the Newbridge to Gogar section, where side roads are a known issue, especially Gogarstone Rd.
It has all gone a bit quiet. They have done some of the 'easier' stuff but have needed to get the 40mph limit in place before they can redesign the junctions without needing to have 70mph slip roads.
The 40mph was passed in August but had to go back in December but was passed again, so signs should be going up soon. The Toucan Crossing at the BP garage will be next to be designed/built.
It will probably be at least another year before any thing gets built at the side roads though as we're still to get designs done.
No harm in chiving the local councillors along though.
Posted 5 years ago #
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