CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Leamington Lift Bridge

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  1. Morningsider
    Member

    Once the Canal-Meadows link is built I assume the NCN will be re-routed, so as not to cross the lift bridge.

    The bridge being broken is embarrassing for Scottish Canals (and therefore the Scottish Government). Cash is a bit short, but the recent doubling of active travel spend, which is funnelled through Sustrans, means there is a decent pot of cash that can be raided for such projects. Honestly, get used to the definition of "active travel" being stretched to breaking point over the next few years, as local authority transport departments try and use this cash to plug holes in their budget.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  2. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    @fimm I had in mind either rounding the end of the canal at Lochrin Basin or using the ramp at New Boroughmuir, depending on the journey one was attempting to achieve.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  3. Trixie
    Member

    No one who loves their bike would want to deal with the skelping of going round the Basin all the time. Which takes us back to my idea of leaving the bridge to the canal people and sorting the surface instead. I can't imagine what it's like in a wheelchair.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  4. wingpig
    Member

    "Are you taking the lift?"
    "No, I'll just take the stairs" etc.

    2019-03-26_01-28-54 by wingpig, on Flickr

    Posted 5 years ago #

  5. jdanielp
    Member

    Yikes. There have been various trucks and portacabins on the stretch of towpath opposite the boxy houses and boat moorings so far this week. I also noticed that the fence around the lift bridge had moved each time I passed, but this is an unexpected turn of events. Hopefully it won't be closed completely again. I did see somebody reading a notice attached to the fence as I cycled over the bridge this morning, but I didn't stop to find out what it said.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  6. neddie
    Member

    I think they are putting in a temporary pedestrian bridge to the East side of it.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  7. fimm
    Member

    I meant to post, sorry.
    There was a notice on the fencing on Monday evening saying that work was due to start on the 25th and that there would be a temporary bridge. I don't recall anything about the location or nature of such a bridge.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  8. jdanielp
    Member

    Hmm. I hope it is bike friendly...

    Posted 5 years ago #

  9. gembo
    Member

    Looks like they have installed another bridge of narrow nature just east of the lift bridge. Big crane right in the way that has been there since yesterday. Many workies parked next to the towpath. Lot of scaffolding.

    So depends what you might think friendly means. For instance I think friendly as looks like I might still be able to use the route. Others might call it unfriendly indeed a sign might appear which will instruct cyclists to dismount.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  10. wingpig
    Member

    Friendliness is usually assessed by trip-trapping over it. Give it a try in the morning...

    Posted 5 years ago #

  11. gembo
    Member

    There's no trolls underneath I can assure you of that

    Posted 5 years ago #

  12. jdanielp
    Member

    I have yet to be diverted over the temporary bridge which looks narrow but potentially cyclable if nobody is coming in the other direction.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  13. davidsonsdave
    Member

    "if nobody is coming in the other direction" Luckily nobody else uses that route and it isn't right next to a newly built High School.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  14. jdanielp
    Member

    The fencing around the bridge had been moved this morning so that there are now a few unavoidable steps to the south of the bridge, which means that its bike friendliness has been reduced (and disabled access is basically prevented).

    Posted 5 years ago #

  15. fimm
    Member

    When I went that way on Thursday evening, the main bridge was open and the temporary bridge was fenced off.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  16. gembo
    Member

    @fimm, think they are dismantling parts of the lift bridge so at times may divert us onto the temporary bridge.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  17. jdanielp
    Member

    Sorry, I should have clarified that I have not yet been inconvenienced by the old bridge being closed, although the temporary bridge is looking like it is becoming less bike friendly as and when it is actually put into use.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  18. gembo
    Member

    Shut now

    Posted 5 years ago #

  19. fimm
    Member

    Was shut when I went through last night. I now understand what jdanielp means about steps - they are not part of the temporary bridge, but on the Gilmore Place side there are a couple to get down to road level, although with good manouvering skills you could probably avoid them.

    There's also a completely non-standard "cyclists dismount" sign, with which I will prbably comply especially when there are other bridge users around; but I don't have particulary good low-speed manouvering skills and I can get off my bike easily!

    Posted 5 years ago #

  20. dougal
    Member

    Went over last night, dropping down the steps and kerb to the road. Agreed that the temporary bridge is a bit of an accessibility clusterfruitcake. It's that same style of multiple kerbs merging into one that so frequently trips pedestrians at the corner of the Calton Road spur from Leith Street.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  21. jdanielp
    Member

    I used the temporary bridge last night and this morning, dismounting on both occasions. Someone cycled a MTB over behind me last night and bumped down the steps. The fence has been shifted so that level access is just achievable again, as fimm notes, as an alternative to the steps.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  22. Ribena
    Member

    There are now Cyclists Dismount signs at both ends of the temporary bridge. I saw some people riding over and others dismounting this afternoon - snapped a picture and tweeted it to everyone I could think of (although not the local MP as she’s a bit busy!)

    Posted 5 years ago #

  23. jdanielp
    Member

    @Ribena I failed to spot the cyclists dismount signs on my way home (heading into town) so cycled across the empty bridge, avoided the steps, but had to bump down an unavoidable drop from the pavement onto the road.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  24. piosad
    Member

    The bridge is really too narrow not to dismount (and on the Lower Gilmore Place side requires a bit too much 180 degree turn agility to be comfortable). This morning a chap on an MTB refused to dismount and played chicken with some school-age children crossing the other way, which wasn't a great look. Crap infrastructure not an excuse…

    Posted 5 years ago #

  25. gembo
    Member

    I dismounted around 8 a.m. This morning, one ped coming the other way. Also big lorry blocking the path and also a Wilmington's Cow coming the other way. Remains friendly despite giving up on us.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  26. neddie
    Member

    Untitled by Ed, on Flickr

    Posted 5 years ago #

  27. chdot
    Admin

    “

    A new public square will created by the Leamington Lift Bridge, while internal courtyard space will be established between the buildings.

    “

    https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/former-brewery-site-plans-which-could-see-200-new-homes-set-for-green-light-1-4971368

    Posted 5 years ago #

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