The point about ASLs is worth thinking about. The whole problem with the junction is the excessive queues caused by the high numbers of vehicles. They could build ASLs quite easily - but I don't think there is much scope to reach them safely on a bike during those times because the carriageways are so narrow, especially that on the A703.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
A701 "Relief Road"
(132 posts)-
Posted 1 month ago #
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@ejstubbs - what! I've been calling it Old Pentland Road for years! A quick check of the OS map and Midlothian Council's list of public roads confirms that it really is just called "Pentland Road".
Posted 1 month ago # -
Edinburgh council atlas us probably just using OSM data and the road is Midlothian. However it appears as Pentland Road on their list of adopted roads. Curiously though the Royal Mail appears to agree with Google and the secret garden distillery also adds "old" in is address so it's not totally clear cut.
Historic maps reveal some interesting facts. Old Pentland used to be just Pentland in the mid 19th century. New Pentland was also already there. By the start of the 20th century Pentland had become "old" and had remained so. Presumably the road name dates from the time before the change. I'm not aware of an online source of historic road names.
Posted 1 month ago # -
This just in from bear:
Thank you for contacting us regarding the provision for cyclists during the traffic signal installation works near Hillend.
Cyclists will be allowed to proceed through the works site. We ask that you approach the site carefully and dismount, at which point one of our traffic management operatives will make sure the site is safe for you to pass through or may escort you through the works.
Thank you again for raising this with us.
Posted 1 month ago # -
I have just received an identical reply from BEAR Scotland. That's good news, although they didn't actually answer my first question.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Having made an interesting excursion to Loanhead on Monday this week* I realised on my return home that I had seen no sign of any traffic lights at the A702/A703 junction at Hilllend. As far as I know, the overnight closures in January did take place, but there didn't seem to be any sign of anything significant having been done. I certainly didn't encounter any actual traffic lights there.
Was it all just preparation work that left no obvious traces? It seems that installing traffic lights must be a much more complicated process than one might have imagined. (I note that Edinburgh Council have scheduled four weeks to put new lights in at the bottom of Craiglockhart Avenue).
* First ever visit to Mavisbank Policies. Pleasant enough walk along the North Esk, with many dippers evident, but I'm afraid I was rather underwhelmed by the estate itself.
Posted 5 days ago # -
I went past a few weeks ago and retention sockets had been installed for the traffic lights. Generally a civils contractor will install the ducting/sockets etc before a traffic signals contractor than handles the actual lights/cabinets etc.
Posted 4 days ago # -
@ejstubbs, the full signalisation is coming, but I'm not sure when exactly it's planned for.
Mavisbank is quite nice to visit - I've been there two or three times in the last few years, but it there isn't a lot to do or look at. The ruinous state of the house is obviously is an issue, and its rather secluded outlook probably doesn't help the aura of grandeur that it deserves. How it ever came to be in the hands of a used car salesman is beyond me.
Posted 4 days ago # -
“
It was altered in the 19th century, but suffered decades of neglect in the 20th century. The interiors were gutted by fire in 1973, and the house remains a ruin, described by Colin McWilliam in 1978 as a "precarious shell.".[4] In 2024, a grant of £5.3 million was given to stabilise the building and to enable up-to-date surveys of its condition to be made.“
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavisbank_House
“
The Mavisbank Trust is looking for funding and volunteers to support our work to help ensure the long-term future of Mavisbank. Support comes in many forms and you may have a variety of skills and experience you can offer - so come and join us. Of course, if you are able to make a donation to the Trust that would be very welcome too!
“
Posted 4 days ago # -
Compulsory purchase notices went up at Mavisbank on Saturday, with a view to works to stabilise the ruins.
Posted 4 days ago # -
Starting on Sunday, some minor A702 work, via https://www.roadworksscotland.org/ :
High Impact Works
Reference: XS001-SEU/2025/20310 (3755172)
Location: A702 Hillend.
Address: A702t, Penicuik
Promoter: Transport Scotland - SE Unit Op Company
Contact: SENetworkAccess@bearscotland.co.uk or via http://www.bearscot.com/se/
Est start date: 23/02/2025
Description: Dayworks. Lining.Posted 4 days ago # -
Very confused about the changes at A702/703 junction, as I'd thought they were scheduled to install traffic signals at the end of January and when we passed it recently these haven't materialised... Anyone know if they were delayed for some reason?
Posted 4 days ago #
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