CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
“Major resurfacing works are to take place between Newington Road and Hunter Sq”
(23 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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Perfect opportunity to build world class cycling infrastructure on this major stretch of busy capital road.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Minto Street was done not that long ago, but the gas main replacement was done in a hurry, joints left unsealed and substrate not compacted so now it's falling to bits. This will be the same.
Segregated bike lanes last much longer because they don't have HGVs in them. Taxpayer should therefore be delighted to see them installed in this vital transport corridor.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Trixie's has posted a vid-ay-oh of a very long jam that starts at this piece of road. On frustrated motorists thread. Stuck in a jam with four spare seats and no one to talk to except illegally on your phone.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Also mentioned here:
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12296&page=3#post-273988
Posted 6 years ago # -
Presumably as part of this scheme the pavement on South Bridge looks like it's being widened, at least on the western side, just in time for the Fringe!
I knew 'some improvements' were going to happen within the limits of what was possible during a resurfacing but I thought this sort of thing needed legal approval. Have any plans been published? Do we know what else is coming?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Any sort of pavement widening scheme needs an RSO
Posted 6 years ago # -
That's what I thought, but at the pedestrian crossing and the junction with Blair Street it really does look like the kerbline is being moved out. Perhaps there's some sort of exception for slight changes like this, or they're using a temporary order in the meantime or something like that? It's very possible I'm just totally misinterpreting the situation.
The other possibility which occurs to me is that the current layout doesn't actually conform to the 'legal' layout and they're using this opportunity to correct it?
Posted 6 years ago # -
"they're using a temporary order in the meantime"
Very possible.
"the current layout doesn't actually conform to the 'legal' layout and they're using this opportunity to correct it"
That would be interesting if the case.
Presumably if the redetermination does not affect parking/loading bays or bus lanes then it can be done under a temporary RSO/TRO (which requires no public consultation), then advertise a permanent order as a fait accompl, objections being "set aside"i later (see Leith Street for a recent example of this)
Posted 6 years ago # -
They are definitely widening the pavement here from crossing to the junction with Blair Street, levelling up the pavements so that there's no longer that unpleasant thing where the outside lane on one side is opposite the inside on the others so vehicles sometimes change lanes obliviously. Presumably the southbound bus/parking lane will start later as a result.
They also seem to be doing something with the North Bridge pedestrian crossing - could it be going single stage? That would be nice.
Posted 6 years ago # -
could it be going single stage?
Doubt it. Crossings of roads with four or more lanes can't be single stage, and it's unlikely that they're reducing the number of lanes on North Bridge.
Posted 6 years ago # -
“could it be going single stage?”
You mean where pedestrian lights are green on all 4 crossings at same time?
I thought it was.
But then I thought there were two pedestrian phases on a full cycle. Pretty there was only one last week when I passed.
Posted 6 years ago # -
You mean where pedestrian lights are green on all 4 crossings at same time?
I thought they meant the pedestrian crossing further up, outside Argos.
But then I thought there were two pedestrian phases on a full cycle. Pretty there was only one last week when I passed.
Might depend on the time of day/how often people push the button etc, but I don't remember this junction having two pedestrian phases/cycle. The one at George IV Bridge/High Street definitely does though.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I was talking about the pedestrian crossing outside Argos, yeah. I'm not sure the four lanes restriction is in place anymore - see here and here further along the road. You'd think North Bridge with its good visibility and 20mph limit (which at that point isn't *too* theoretical, at least going uphill) would be a reasonable place for one.
The North Bridge/Royal Mile junction does have two pedestrian phases like the George IV one, but only if the button is pressed during the preceding traffic phase. (I assume that's the case for both.) During most of the day this means there's usually consistent double pedestrian phases. However, when waiting to go south off North Bridge you occasionally realise with entirely selfish satisfaction that none of the (usually 10+) people waiting to cross have actually pressed the button, meaning you immediately (and totally unfairly) get a green light.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Now if they could only move the Tron west by about 10 metres...
Posted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago # -
Crossings of roads with four or more lanes can't be single stage
Not sure where you heard that. The fairly recently installed toucan at the Western Approach Rd and McEwan Sq crosses 4 lanes in a single stage. You have to wait for days for the lights to change, mind.
Move the Tron...
I like it. Move a whole church to accommodate motor vehicles. No one can imagine the motor vehicles not being there.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Not sure where you heard that.
A line repeated regularly and loudly by CEC officials in defense of the Picardy Place scheme
Posted 6 years ago # -
Not sure where you heard that.
Thought it was in an email from a council officer, but I can't find it now, so might have been said at a consultation event.
The crossing at McEwan Square has been there for at least six years (from Street View), so the policy might have changed since then.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Indeed the Toucan crossing of Clerk Street (Gifford Park to Rankeillor Street bike route) is 4 lanes in one go, and doesn't even take long to trigger.
Edit: can't be sure it's a Toucan, my mind might be playing tricks. But it's at least a Puffin, and defo 4 lanes.Posted 6 years ago # -
Actually come to think of it the Blair Street one that's having the pavement widened was four lanes too (although I think it's going down to three.)
Posted 6 years ago # -
I hope they keep the argos island. Great bike lock zone for when picking up orders.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago #
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