It has occurred to me, as North Bridge gradually disappears under a mass of scaffolding, panels, and traffic cones, that I have no idea what sort of works are actually underway.
Fortunately the Council website has the answers: mostly they're blasting off the crud on the metal parts and repainting them (as well as doing a few other general maintenance tasks).
It also makes me wonder if any strengthening works might be needed in the, presumably now slightly less unlikely, event that tramline 3 to the south side goes ahead at some point?
There's also the question, with or without trams, of how best to facilitate cycling along North Bridge. Regardless of the Mound - KG IV Bridge cycleway, I doubt I'd ever use it very much in the uphill direction, as the Mound is somewhat unpleasantly steep, and either North Bridge or Lothian Road have much easier gradients. While, with wide bus lanes, both are reasonably fine for experienced cyclists, both streets still could really use further improvements to make them more welcoming to less experienced cyclists.
Possibly the proposals for a cycle bridge over Waverley Station from Calton Road might come to something, but there's still no slog-free way to continue southwards beyond there apart from towards Holyrood, although possibly a Cowgate restricted (with proper enforcement) to only bikes, a replacement for the #6 bus service (Holyrood - Cowgate - Morrison St - Haymarket interchange maybe (could be a quicker journey for Parliament staff and visitors than attempting to change at Waverley)?), possibly taxis (hmmm, speed limiters required?), limited hours access for deliveries, and then up Candlemaker Row might work, albeit not particularly direct?
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