A new sign at the end of Slateford Aqueduct says that the footpath will be closed to through traffic on Monday 23rd January for five weeks and that users will need to find an alternative route, suggesting that there won't be an official diversion.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Slateford Aqueduct Closure
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Posted 7 years ago #
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That will be annoying. Five weeks is a long time.
Do you know what work is being done?I don't mind cycling on the lanark road downhill there, but uphill is not fun (the speed differential with traffic is too great for me to feel comfortable).
Posted 7 years ago # -
I missed this on my way along the Canal this morning. That will be a nightmare particularly for avoiding the start of Lanark Road (think the aqueduct is the best of two evils). I suppose best diversion route will be through Redhall Park to join or exit the canal at the point where you can take the bridge over towards the Water of Leith.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Redhall park is the diversion route for sure. Greenroofer and I were discussin this just as a way of avoiding the aqueduct.
Come off canal and take path down to end of Slateford Station. Down to Blue Goose (now closed) take right passed Jehovah Witnesses and then left at sainsubrys and veer left into the park. Take path to top of park at swings. Take left turn through tunnel under railway then back up onto canal.
Not terrrible detour and less aggro than aqueduct.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Repairs will be made to the troughs and structures of the historic Avon and Slateford Aqueducts." https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/news/winter-works-across-the-scottish-canals/
It says that there will be four weeks of closure online...
Posted 7 years ago # -
@gembo - I've been thinking about that route. It all seems good except when one is heading east, because going east will require what looks like a 'challenging' blind right turn across Slateford/Lanark Road just before the railway bridge to get onto the road to Slateford Station. Is it as bad as it looks?
...and why do I have some kind of folk memory that I've heard Arellcat grumbling about it too?
Posted 7 years ago # -
@greenroofer the right turn Is not that blind but yes can be a challenge. You must indicate and move right early but then Allan park comes up and you do not turn right until after it. However there are two lanes and sometimes the traffic stops so you wait in stationary traffic to take the Turn. At others you are stationary in moving traffic this is all in the morning but might be even worse at night? Sometimes it is clear the other way and you sail up. Network rail vans more prevalent recently.
You could go up Allan park and get onto the canal there? You can also use the lights at dominos pizza FKA The Codfather. Then cycle on the pavement.
I concur that arellcat has made comment on here before concerning this topic.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Is it as bad as it looks?"
Pretty much.
Could turn right one before (Allan Park Rd) and get on the canal via the path that leads to the footbridge.
Also there is a signalled crossing just before, which can/will stop traffic.
EDIT: as above!
Posted 7 years ago # -
Depending on your final destination I'd be inclined to forget about the canal from there. Slateford Road is fine once your past Asda, that bottle neck can be a little unnerving, the only other part of that route that ever gave me cause for concern was crossing the Approach Road at Dundee St.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Greenroofer, I think this is perhaps the thread you had in mind:
Posted 7 years ago # -
Dundee St also shut opposite the new school, as of today. Don't know how long for...
Posted 7 years ago # -
Scottish Canals tweet suggesting there is an alternative route:
https://twitter.com/scottishcanals/status/818500610995666944
Posted 7 years ago # -
If you are travelling from west to east, one suggested route is to leave the towpath on the west bank at Redhall, go through Redhall Public Park to Inglis Green Road, turn right underneath the aqueduct and railway viaduct to the road junction, turn left and head east along Slateford Road, turn right into Allan Park Road and rejoin the towpath at Allan Park Bridge. If you are travelling from east to west, reverse this route.
https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/news/towpath-closure-slateford-aqueduct-union-canal/
Posted 7 years ago # -
I think this is the proposed diversion?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Can't decide if this is 'reasonable'.
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Scottish Canals (@scottishcanals)
10/01/2017, 15:36
@CyclingEdin Due to the number of alternative possible routes, there is no official diversion. Therefore signage will only be on the towpath"
I know the route options so it's not an issue for me.
Some people may choose to go up the path towards Balerno and then up the steep slope and onto Lanark Road or a bit further and down through Craiglockhart Dell to the WoL Centre.
Posted 7 years ago # -
The right turns are going to be miserable both ways on that route. Very exposed to following traffic although I guess at peak rush hour traffic might be slow enough for most to manage.
You could avoid one of them by taking the stairs on the left as soon as you ride under the canal (going east). Only a short climb up.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Unrelated -
"
A three-mile section near Linlithgow will be emptied of water to repair leaks and remove obstructions.
Scottish Canals is staging two open days to enable people to see a normally-hidden aspect of the 200-year-old canal.
The operation started yesterday and will continue until 16 February. A total of 30,000 cubic metres of water is being removed - enough to fill 12 Olympic-size swimming pools.
...
The open days will be held from 1-3pm on Tuesday, 17 January and Saturday, 4 February, when Scottish Canals engineering, environmental and heritage experts will be on hand.
"
http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/three-mile-section-of-union-canal-to-be-drained-1-4336143
Posted 7 years ago # -
On the water of leith detour the road behind slateford train station not gritted this morning. neither was the towpath. I should have stayed on the road which is quiet at them moment because of the closure at new boroughmuir
Posted 7 years ago # -
Towpath still open this morning.
And no signs of any work.Posted 7 years ago # -
Indeed. There were some Scottish Canals vehicles parked by Hermiston House Bridge and the blue canal maintenance vessel was in action beyond the bridge with a matching blue JCB parked precariously on one end, so maybe that will be heading towards the aqueduct at some point?
Posted 7 years ago # -
In reply to my query about the aqueduct still being open, Scottish Canals on Twitter said that "Hi Daniel, we've checked with the team and it will be closed from today. You must've made it through just before the closure."
Posted 7 years ago # -
Yep. Now closed.
Took the "official" diversion and accidentally took the wrong turning first. Corrected myself then had to ride through a very dark park. Probably a bit scary for those not as confident.
Most other cyclists seemed to be riding up the Lanark road instead.Posted 7 years ago # -
Indeed. I'd be interested to know what they are doing after heading up Lanark Road. My colleague suggests that it is possible to take a left, get onto the path through Colinton Dell and then get back onto the canal towpath via the bridge. I went east on Lanark Road and Meggetgate.
Posted 7 years ago # -
After heading up Lanark road at the footbridge over the A70 there is access to the WoL path / another bridge over the canal and from there back on to the towpath it is fairly straightforward though might be busy with cars. If that was proving tricky you can also go under the footbridge over the a70 then after the house belonging to kerr's removals ( white harling red tiles) take a left and then and left to get you onto the WoL path and then go over the footbridge over the a70. I would judge that probably OK to manage the former.
Do not take the colleagues suggestion of colinton dell at tickled trout/blue goose. That is feasible but lot of steps and windy.
Posted 7 years ago # -
You'd think that in a cycle-friendly* nation such as Scotland, they'd impose a temporary 20mph limit on that section of the Lanark Rd, due to the additional volume of cyclists.
*Don't make me laugh - we're simply expendable obstacles..
Posted 7 years ago # -
@eddie-h even 30mph would be good as in this crazy old world in which we live, that stretch is 40mph. Not cool.
Posted 7 years ago # -
It really didn't help that there were roadworks shutting off the east-bound bus lane just before the Water of Leith Visitors' Centre last night, but I found that the 'official' diversion was ok this morning despite traffic (thank you for highlighting the possibility of taking the wrong left turn CJC), although there was a van parked on and nearly blocking the path at Meggetgate (I glared at the driver who looked back at me angrily - I didn't think it was worth asking him to move) and several parked vehicles partly blocking the wider part of the entrance to Redhall Park.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Grr. Have just sent this. Really underwhelmed by the 'cyclists can get stuffed' attitude of these works.
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Dear Scottish CanalsI write to make a formal complaint to Scottish Canals about the management of the maintenance work to the Slateford Aqueduct. Specifically, I want to complain about the poor provision for people cycling on the Union Canal towpath during that maintenance work. The lack of significant provision is causing me, and other people who cycle on the canal, material avoidable inconvenience and is exposing me and other people who cycle to significant additional risk that I do not believe has been effectively mitigated.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am not complaining that the aqueduct has had to be closed. I understand the need for maintenance work, and accept that sometimes this causes inconvenience.
My specific concerns are:
- At the western end of the works near Redhall Park (and, I assume, at the eastern end), there is no provision for cycles. There are several large signs directing people on foot, but no signs directing people on bicycles.
- On the assumption that the preferred route (as referenced on the Scottish Canals website) is through Redhall Park, there is no signage in Redhall Park offering directions for cycling.
- The entrance to Redhall Park is currently being used as a pound for plant and contractors' vehicles, which I assume from damage to the park and towpath are linked to the aqueduct work. There is no signage for cycling in this area, although a narrow fenced route appeared yesterday, but again this is only signed for pedestrians. If these plant and vehicles are not related to the aqueduct works, then it is extremely disappointing that there is no evidence of co-ordination between the park authorities and Scottish Canals when Redhall Park was being recommended as the preferred cycling route.
- There is no evidence of signage on either the Lanark Road or Inglis Green Road to indicate the preferred route for cyclists.
- There is no evidence of signage in the same area to warn people in cars to expect heavier-than usual cycle traffic.
- There is no evidence of an attempt to manage the traffic flow reduce the risk to cyclists (for example with the implementation of a TTRO to limit speeds or restrict parking). In fact, there are currently roadworks in progress on Lanark Road that make cycling east along it particularly challenging.
The roads recommended as a route are hostile to people on bicycles, particularly at rush hour. The recommended routes require several changes of lane and challenging right turns, and are only suitable for the very strongest and most confident cyclists.
I reject the suggestion that there are multiple different routes people on bicycles could take past the aqueduct, and that it's impractical to mark them on the ground or to take action to make them safer. In my view Scottish Canals should have identified the safest route for people on bicycles (perhaps the one shown on website, or perhaps an alternative) and should have then taken steps to signpost that route, to warn other users of that route and to put in place measures to reduce the risk of people using that route.
I would like to see the following action taken:
- Installation of signage along the whole recommended diversion route to show people on bicycles where to go and to warn other users of the route about the presence of cycles.
- Installation of an appropriate route for cycles through the entrance to Redhall Park.
- Confirmation that Scottish Canals has reviewed its approach to these works, and that future works will make better provision for cycles.
I would be grateful for your immediate acknowledgement of this note, and for a substantive response by Friday 3 February.
Yours aye
Greenroofer"Posted 7 years ago # -
Good letter Greenroofer, look forward to seeing their reply.
I went up Redhall Bank Road yesterday but couldn't work out in the dark how to join the WoL or the towpath.
@gembo - is this where you were suggesting to join? Traffic was too heavy to try to cross the A70.Posted 7 years ago # -
My email has been passed to 'the project engineer'
This evening I was cycling up the steep winding narrow blind bit from the towpath onto the bridge over the canal to the WoL path and A70 when I met a dumper truck coming the other way and filling the whole path. Lucky I wasn't a five year old on foot or a bike, because the driver wouldn't have seen me and would have driven straight over me.
There is no signage to warn anyone to be aware of vehicles moving on the towpath and there was no evidence of any banksman in front of the vehicle. There was some chap behind, but he wasn't a great deal of use there.
Posted 7 years ago #
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