Until Dec 7th
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Powderhall Bridge shut
(23 posts)-
Posted 9 months ago #
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local social media / curtain twitches are reporting that there's an application to close if for 2 years in the works - not sure I believe, but would be depressing if true - as a family we use this short link more than once / day and the alt routes are poor.
Posted 9 months ago # -
When the consultation for this development was out years ago I questioned the need for the zone to include the north end of the path and was worried that it would end up with a load of placemaking hazards in the way. I do not recall any mention of any risk of it being shut for ages during development.
Posted 9 months ago # -
I once again iterated the importance of either minimising closure of the path itself, or opening a better diversion due to concerns about the length of diversion and suitability of the currently posted route for wheelchair users, prams, and cyclists as well as the impact on a nearby business.
He confirmed that the team onsite are assessing options on the next door site (where the Stables are) to see if a parallel path is possible but was clear this was being explored so couldn’t be confirmed at this moment due to both health-and-safety considerations and liaison with the leads on that site
https://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/st-marks-path-closure-latest-news
Posted 9 months ago # -
“
After a community campaign, St Mark's Path will reopen today.
“
According to The Edinburgh Minute Weekend edition: 19 - 21 December 2025
https://www.edinburghminute.com/the-edinburgh-minute-weekend-edition-19-21-december-2025/
Posted 8 months ago # -
Maybe i divert that way then?
Posted 8 months ago # -
And again (for different reasons)
Full report -
https://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/powderhall-bridge-closed
Posted 1 month ago # -
(Yesterday)
So
Reinspected and declared safe?
Didn’t mention before, but when the last Critical Mass went to St. Mark’s Park, there was a guy hanging about who said he was the engineer who had inspected the bridge and said it was unsafe and STRONGLY said that 100 bikes weren’t ‘allowed’ to cross the bridge
CM organisers had already decided to alter route out of Park
Posted 1 month ago # -
Reinspected and things settled or reinspected after actual repair
The bridge on the WoL path at the one hole golf course is closed. But this closure is ignored
Posted 1 month ago # -
“reinspected after actual repair”
Well suggestion was ’serious structural issues’ so assume not…
Posted 1 month ago # -
I'd say it's notable the barrier is still there (right of photo). If this was officially open again, they'd have removed the barrier from site?
Posted 1 month ago # -
Does that bollard come out and to the wee vans which empty bins ever go across it?
Posted 1 month ago # -
Posted 1 month ago #
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They could have the existing bridge knocked down and a temporary Bailey bridge in place inside a week while they look for a longer term solution, but I suspect nobody at the council is in any great hurry to do anything since they didn't want St Marks Path open during the construction on the adjacent site anyway and only reopened it on sufferance. Won't be surprised if, miraculously, any timescale they come up with for getting it sorted out will just so happen to coincide with the end of said construction works.
Posted 1 month ago # -
“will just so happen to coincide with the end of said construction works”
Well
‘Good’ news is that that may not be as long as you think
While there is activity on both sides of the path, it’s only the (former) bowling green site that is being built on. The development on the larger site is on hold
It will be interesting to see if/how much access to Redbraes Park (and then Broughton Road) is improved by locals
At present it’s a moderately well used access by adventurous/agile people
More problematic for people with bikes
Of course this limited access option might be removed by ‘the authorities’
Posted 1 month ago # -
Had a ‘tour’ yesterday
Bridge/route finally ‘secure’ - chain and padlock on large gates at Broughton Road (could have been done weeks ago)
Other end ‘secure enough’ unless anyone is desperate to stand on bridge
Posted 1 month ago # -
Don’t think this has been mentioned on.CCE before
“
Powderhall Junction A public conversation on the preferred layout.City of Edinburgh Council | September 2024
“
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5095ece461fb4ddb89142ddb8e938f79
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
“
By Councillor Caldwell for answer by the Convener of the Culture and Communities Committee at a meeting of the Council on 27 August 2026
Does the Convener agree with me that the bridge leading between Broughton Road and St Mark’s Park is a key active travel link for the northeast of the city, affecting thousands of residents’ access to greenspace as well as a vital walking, wheeling and cycling route?
“
Posted 1 week ago # -
"A public conversation on the preferred layout."
I'll have to dig around to see if I can find my saved opinions on that engagement. It wasn't apparent that the people who had created the layout had realised that there's a significant slope up to the junction at the end of McDonald Road and the usual thing about cyclists not being able to rotate around a vertical axis somewhere around their chainring to accommodate sharp right-angled turns on narrow channels.
Posted 1 week ago # -
“
In theory a path could created from Broughton Road behind Powderhall Stables onto the bridge over the WoL and then join the NEPN paths. Another option would be via Redbraes Park In reality such joined-up-thinking might be ‘too difficult’…
“Posted 1 week ago # -
“
Item no 10.9
By Councillor Caldwell for answer by
the Convener of the Culture and
Communities Committee at a
meeting of the Council on 27 August
2026Does the Convener agree with me that the bridge leading
between Broughton Road and St Mark’s Park is a key active
travel link for the northeast of the city, affecting thousands of
residents’ access to greenspace as well as a vital walking,
wheeling and cycling route?While we do not hold data on the extent of use of the bridge
at St Mark’s Park, it is acknowledged to be an important
route for active travel and for access to and from the park.Acknowledging the seriousness of the inspection report, can
the Convener confirm that bridge repair or replacement
remains a top priority for the Parks Department?The Parks and Openspace team are working with the
Structures team to understand the extent of the structural
report. It is highly likely that a full bridge replacement will be
required. This is a high priority. Officers are seeking cost
estimates for full replacement. There is no current timetable
for reopening.Is it envisioned that additional funding will be required to
reopen the bridge? [/i]Additional funding will be required to install a new bridge.
Officers are exploring cost estimates just now to inform
budget decisions.Have other departments, such as the Active Travel
department, been approached due to it being on Quiet
Route 20 and neighbouring to CMP Project rank #9
(Powderhall Junction)?All relevant departments are aware of this closure and the
impact that it is having.Question (5) Answer (5) Is the Convener able to give an indicative timescale for re-
opening?Officers will need to establish budget and undertake
procurement of a new bridge. This is likely to take several
months. Once tendered, the successful contractor will need
to manufacture and install the bridge, which is likely to also
take several months. Public utilities are understood to cross
within the deck structure, and these will need to be diverted.
If funding is not available until the new financial year, i.e.,
April 2027, then realistically, a new bridge would not be
installed and open until at least early 2028.Once approximate costs of a replacement structure are
known, and funding has been identified, Officers will provide
a written briefing to Transport and Environment members
and Ward Councillors. This will outline a timetable for
design, construction, and installation and intended to inform
budget setting and allocation for 2027/28.
“Posted 2 hours ago # -
Not forgetting there IS an alternative
“
In theory a path could created from Broughton Road behind Powderhall Stables onto the bridge over the WoL and then join the NEPN paths. Another option would be via Redbraes Park
In reality such joined-up-thinking might be ‘too difficult’…“
Posted 2 hours ago #
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