Maybe it's getting taken down, repaired and put back on new footings that don't require steps?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Meanwhile, in Lochend...
(114 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Aha: the existing slope-steps and bridge are a single unit, not supported by anything other that the slope-stepped bit at the slope-step end.
Posted 12 years ago # -
A lot of the railway bridges were built with clearances not condusive of the safe passage of double decker buses and tall goods vehicles underneath. This was one reason that they were often so quick at removing the old bridges when the lines were lifted. Perhaps when the existing footbridge was instated, the steps were used as a cheap solution to raising the height of the bridge.
The bridge between Gilmerton and Loanhead on the old railway line has been lifted a good foot and a half off its footings, then put back. Probably was cheaper to leave it there than to take the thing away entirely. If / when the cycle path is finally laid along this route, a similar step-free raised bridge will be required
Posted 12 years ago # -
That certainly wasn't there when I last went on the bridge. Was quite a while ago, mind you. The hole looks more like the start of demolition work than 'wear and tear'...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Thought - perhaps they're only replacing the stepped section, hence breaking bridge at the join between flat / stepped section?
Posted 12 years ago # -
They've lightly knacked it a bit eastwards of the support, though. I shall be popping along there a few times over the course of the evening to inspect progress. Replacing the whole thing would be an extreme way of fixing the drainage problems at the east end, though.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I was lead to believe that due to the upgrading of the path, the bridge was being replaced with a wider bridge since the old one was too narrow. This did seem peculiar to me as there never seem to be many people crossing the bridge when I go past. I would have thought they could have waited to see if demand increases enough to require a wider bridge. However, whoever decided a new bridge was necessary no doubt had good reason.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'm not complaining (I am! - in a roundabout way) I'm all for improving all parts of the cycle network, I just find that replacing this particular bridge with what must be a very expensive new version seems to be an odd an expensive priority, when this money could be well spent fixing existing infrastructure and surfacing parts of the routes crying out for tarmac (Balgreen - Corstorphine, Gyle - Gogar Station, etc.)
Hey Ho.
Posted 12 years ago # -
If the slope at the Seafield Street/Eastern General end had already been done then the access to Leith Links would be the final step in making the path a viable alternative to the particulate unpleasantness of Seafield Road for walkers, joggers, runners, people with buggies, cyclists and neds, especially useful during the hours when the
boneburnt remains yard is shut. The new unstepped access will currently enable people to access Findlay Gardens and Hawkhill, or Pirniefield and Restalrig Road via steps and/or poo-covered muddy slopes.Posted 12 years ago # -
Posted 12 years ago #
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Progress: the stretch from the de-bridged bit past the crematorium has been de-mudded and re-gravelled. Large holes beside the path with purple tubes in will presumably hold lighting-poles. Most of the vegetation has survived but there have been a few tree-cullings, presumably only where strictly necessary to keep the path three metres wide but coincidentally at the points where drainage was always fairly bad.
I did have my proper low-light-capable camera with me but anything taken with it has to wait for Flickr-backlog-clearance.
No idea if it's new or always-been-there-hidden-behind-the-leaves but there's what looks like a carving of what looks like a mushroom tucked against the wall just along from the crematorium entrance.
The little sneak-through escape to the east of the billboard is still accessible on feet.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Great stuff!
Posted 12 years ago # -
Went past last night at 7pm, BIG crane about to put bridge up. An hour or so later on way back and it was in place. Asked workmen, they reckoned about 3 weeks until useable :-)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Residents only?
Posted 12 years ago # -
It's the other side of the empty offices and used to be a public right of way* years ago, so hopefully for publics. Used to be nice to be able to walk in a mostly straight line (albeit with lots of steps) from Grange Road to the castle without going along roads.
*Or whatever. A path, ken.
Posted 12 years ago # -
IIRC great play was made in the original plans for Quartermile of resurrecting/enhancing these paths/vennels through the city. So there is hope...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Oh by the way the on-ramp to the bridge at Leith Links looks nearly complete.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Hmmm. Hope they're planning on properly rolling and sealing the bit where the new path joins the beside-the-Links path.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Should be able to check this weekend on how they're getting on. Don't think they've laid the tarmac yet, still levelling the aggregate layer on the ramp when I looked on Sunday.
Posted 12 years ago # -
They'd put the top surface on the slope by yesterday evening but it was already developing chancres where it met the existing path...
Posted 12 years ago # -
@wingpig - I love extending my vocabulary, but some things shouldn't be Googled.
Let my sorry state be an example to the rest of you...
...not unlike chancres themselves!
Robert
Posted 12 years ago # -
@wingpig, we shall see what transpires...
Posted 12 years ago # -
Greener Leith reports "Restalrig railway path access improvements announced"
Including hopefully sorting out the chicane access (or barrier) at the Easter Road end. Work starts 28 January.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Ooh. Hopefully that includes the Restalrig Road slope. Maybe they'll add in a special bay off the slope at the top for dog-owners to fill with poo to make the rest of the path usable.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@wingpig, it looks as though they are re-doing all the access points, which is really good news.
I use the path at least once a week, so I look forward to checking on progress...
Posted 11 years ago #
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